Our human capacity to delude ourselves is amazing. It is so easy to imagine that it is our efforts, our skills, and our hard work that lie behind our success. Deuteronomy provides a blunt reminder that this is a deep self-deception. Every moment of living is a gift from God. The air we breathe and the ground on which we walk are all gifts. Any success we enjoy is made possible by the enabler and sustainer of us all----the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When things are going badly, we find ourselves very conscious of God. We desperately want God's help. Deuteronomy draws our attention to the deep irony that when things are going really well, we start thinking that we can live without God. Instead, we should learn to be grateful for our success and share that success with others.  Let's turn today into a day of gratitude and remember to share our blessings with others.

 

- Ian Markham