Obedience

I’ve often wrestled with the connection of obedience and blessing. Because I know that if we were able to earn something from God, we would be engaging in a works based exchange that is contradictory to the true Gospel.

It’s true that blessings and salvation are not the same thing, for we understand that in no way could we ever earn our salvation. As it is written,

"I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

But what about obedience? Doesn’t that entitle me to something? This week, God revealed to me where obedience lies in relation to blessing.

God has laid out a path for each of us to follow. Obedience is the act of walking diligently along this path without veering off. When we walk in His ways, we eventually walk into what He has prepared for us.

It’s not that we earn a blessing. We walk into it because we’re walking along the path God has set for us. God desires to give gifts to His children and these blessings have already been prepared for us in advance. We reach them by walking in step with Him.

"I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble."

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The reason blessings may be delayed when we’re walking in sin is because we’re straying from the path. Sin creates separation. Similarly, disobedience takes us off the path. We can’t reach the destination if we’re wandering off course.

Sinful temptations are often counterfeit of what’s to come. It’s a distraction along the side of the road to lead you off the path. When we leave the path, we detour into sin, foregoing the good thing God had prepared for us which lied ahead.

"Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way."

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When we do reach a blessing, it’s not because we earned it by our obedience. It was a gift from God that we were able to access because we were walking in His Will.

This is why it is written,

"Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We have nothing to boast about but to boast in the Lord for what He has done in us and for what He has given us.

Obedience comes from faith, and with faith comes the understanding of who God is. Knowing who God is in all His sovereignty, we fear Him and love Him enough to not want to disobey His instructions, and thus wander off His path.

This is why it is written,

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Obedience is not an act of labor that produces a wage of blessing. Obedience comes from faith, because faith produces in us the love and desire to walk in God’s ways along the path He set before us.

"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I encourage all of you to walk in obedience to God, not that you may earn a blessing, but so that He may lead you into all He has prepared for you.

Amen.