“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

“You are to fear Him and obey His rules and commands, just as I'm teaching them to you now. Do this your whole lives – you, your children and your grandchildren – and you'll live in the land a long time. Yes, Israel, if you pay careful attention and obey, everything will go well for you in that land flowing with milk and honey; and you'll have many, many descendants just as the Eternal, the God of your ancestors, promised you.” ( Deuteronomy 6:2-3)

Commentary notes that the metaphorical phrase “a land flowing with milk in honey has to do with God's provision in abundance. It notes, “God's promise isn't just that they will possess the land but they will find rest, abundance, and health in it.” [1]

Moses goes on to emphasize in Deuteronomy 6:17, “Carefully obey the commands, rules, and precedents the Eternal, your True God, has given you. Do the things He considers right and good. Then everything will go well for you, and you'll go and live in the good land He promised to your ancestors. The Eternal will drive out all your enemies, just as He said He would. “

The Lord freed the people from slavery and lead them into the land, not because of their righteousness, but because of His unfailing love and covenant promises to their ancestors (Deut. 7:8).

Deut. 8:9-10, “In that land that land, you'll always have plenty to eat – you won't lack anything! There's iron in the rocks, and you can dig copper from the hills. You'll eat and be satisfied, and then you'll humbly thank the Eternal your God for the good land He's given you.”

“You've given me everything I need... for I shall not want or be in need, you satisfy me” sings in the background.

Not only were the people freed from bondage, but they inherited the promises of God which included rest, peace and overflowing joy. They were to not only live but thrive. Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

God gives this peace and rest as we look to Him. Wisdom 6:16-17 notes about Wisdom, “To fix one's thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will be free from care...”

This overflowing abundance comes not from working hard to get it all right and following a set of rules. Rather it comes from finding ones life in God and looking to Him. It is about right relationship with Him rather than following right actions.

“I have all that I need for life and godliness... You're a good, good Father” sings.

Like any good father, He cares for His children, provides for them and gives them everything they need... not because they did anything to deserve it, but because a good father loves and provides for his children. He gives and pours out to his children because they belong to him and he deeply desires them to have every good thing for them. In the same way (and how much more), our Eternal Father cares for us as His children.

God was calling His people to be different and live differently based upon their relationship with Him. His own special people set apart for Him. In this place they would overflow with abundance on every side. They would feast and be totally satisfied.

This wasn't just for them themselves to become full with an overflowing abundance and become proud and complacent. Rather, they were to love their God with all their hearts and souls, staying true to Him and in this, making Him known to all around them.

Entering into life is a struggle not to follow the rules but entering into the inner struggle to be loved fully by God and then out of this place, more fully love others. Jean Vanier shares a prayer of Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople in his book, Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus:

"I have waged this war against myself for many years.

It was terrible.

But now I am disarmed.

I am no longer frightened of anything

because love banishes fear.

I am disarmed of the need to be righteousness

and to justify myself by disqualifying others.

I am no longer on the defensive,

holding onto my riches.

I just want to welcome and to share.

I don't hold on to my ideas and projects.

If someone shows me something better __

no, I shouldn't say better but good __

I accept them without any regrets.

I no longer seek to compare.

What is good, true and real is always for me the best.

That is why I have no fear.

When we are disarmed and dispossessed of self,

if we open our hearts to the God-Man

who makes all things new,

then He takes away past hurts

and reveals a new world

where everything is possible." [2] 

The way we live, the lives we live, the love we live, and the abundance of joy, rest and peace that we live in speaks to others around us. A city on a hill can not be hidden. It is this new inner life that surges up from within that is our new identity. The false self is the hidden self that looks to appear righteous in form by following the letter of the law but is void of the fullness God has for us.

A few days ago, one of my young ones (the older of the youngest two) was filled with joy and worship to overflowing. As we were walking along in the mall, he grabbed my hand and started swinging it, singing about the glory of God on the cross. I started singing along with him and we were having this really rich time together. We were not witnessing to anyone around us but we were living God out loud in a way that others could see this rich feast we were having in the moment with each other and God in the abundance of His provision.

Our inner lives and relationship with each other in unity is to abound and overflow in such a way that it draws all men to God. In Acts, it was the community of believers that were living in unity together that put the fear of God in the hearts of all those around them.

And Paul says in Romans 15:5-9,

“Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, That together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

Welcome and receive [to your hearts] one another, then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ (the Messiah) became a servant and a minister to the circumcised (the Jews) in order to show God's truthfulness and honesty by confirming (verifying) the promises [given] to our fathers,

And [also in order] that the Gentiles (nations) might glorify God for His mercy [not covenanted] to them. As it is written, Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles and sing praises to Your name. [Ps. 18:49.]

When we overflow with God's abounding provision, there is more than enough for those around us.  Our lives and our love overflows and touches those in need.   We see the true beauty in others around us and we call their true selves out.   We are not only given life but also have with us this capacity to give life and do beautiful things with it.  

Lord, help us to live in the fullness of Your abundant promises. Let us grow in the richness of Your love, love  for each other and unity with each other.  From this place, let us overflow in love and light for others.  Let us be filled with light that shines brightly for all who need it to be drawn into Your love.

Arise, Shine!

For your light has come

and the glory of the Lord

has risen upon you.

For darkness shall cover the earth

and thick darkness the peoples

but the Lord will arise upon you

and his glory will appear over you.

Nations shall come

to your light and

kings to the brightness

of your dawn.

(Isaiah 60:1-3)

1. The Voice. Reader's Bible. Thomas Nelson.
2. Vanier, Jean. Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John. Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ. 2004.