Daily Devotional: Blessings and Holiness

​God places blessings in our lives, but those some blessings can become a source of judgment.

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Picture: A replica of the ark of the covenant.

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I Chronicles 13:1-14

“[T]he ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom… And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-edom.”

The ark became a blessing to Obed-edom; because the ark was there, God blessed Obed-edom and all that he had. However, there was a price. Uzza was struck dead for touching the ark.
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The things of God are an absolute blessing. However, they bring judgment if not treated with the proper respect that is due them. The ark should never have been carried on a cart. It was supposed to be hand carried by Levites using golden poles through the hooks of the corners of the ark (Exo. 25:14).

Neglecting to carry the ark according to God’s commandments, David and his men were improperly treating the ark. They were not carrying it as a holy object. Uzza would not have had to touch the ark if it had been carried properly. Therefore, God did not judge Uzza for trying to stabilize the ark; He judged him for failing to treat it as a holy object.

Even though something in and of itself may be a blessing (like the presence of the holy ark), it is only a blessing to us if we treat it correctly. Your church position, your job, your spouse, your prayer time, your Bible—all these can be a source of blessing or a source of judgment depending on your attitude and treatment of them.

• Reflection: What holy things of God are in your life? Are you treating them with respect, gratitude, and reverence? Leave a comment below to share what God has placed in your life.