There are moments in life when doing the right thing can be tough – especially when it goes against our flesh.
Whether it’s turning down a job promotion with a massive pay increase in order to spend more time with family, or even selling your possessions and moving overseas to do mission work – it’s often in the moments of radical obedience where our faith is sharpened.
So just how does God bless us when we obey Him?
To start – our faith increases.
In all those moments when we never know “how” we’re going to make it out of our current situation – by obeying God and doing the next right thing – we often find He shows us the next step to take.
And when we trust Him – and do what He says – we can see His goodness and faithfulness overflow in our lives.
It might not look like we expected – but it is indeed greater.
While God is outside the concept of time and can see all things – we can’t.
Yet in our limited wisdom, sometimes pride blinds us to believe we have it all figured out.
The world often pulls us in one direction – tempting us with the latest and greatest.
Friends tell us to simply divorce our husbands if we aren’t happy… or buy something we can’t afford because we “deserve it.”
But when we stay buried in God’s word, praying for Him to shape the desires of our heart to align with His will – He will give us the strength to obey.
While some things are black and white in Scripture – others aren’t.
Scripture doesn’t tell you “where” to work – but it does tell you to seek wisdom.
And as you spend time in God’s word praying for His will in your life – you’ll see how obeying His voice will lead you to take your next steps.
As Marshall Segal wrote in Desiring God:
“Obedience brings far deeper pleasure than sin, both now and in the long run. The blessing is not merely the absence of punishment, but the presence of favor. Obedience is not simply something we do for God, but something we do with God, as a way to experience more of him.”
We don’t obey God to “get something” – but as Segal points out it helps us to know God in a deeper way.
As we strengthen the muscle of self-control and say no to the temporary things that satisfy the flesh – our dependence on the Spirit and things that are eternal will deepen.
Obeying God isn’t supposed to be something we dread – but something we yearn for.
One thing we can know with certainty is that God is good – all the time.
And in choosing to obey Him – even if we don’t understand – even if the world thinks we’re crazy – we know He will bless us.
Sometimes His blessings are immediate – but more often it’s developing a spiritual discipline that will help us to walk with Him all the days of our lives.
And of course – the greatest blessing we have is deepening our relationship with Him – and watching how He’ll use us for His glory.
What blessings have you experienced by obeying God?
What are some of the difficulties you’ve experienced on the path of obedience?
You can post your answers to our Facebook page and join in the conversation with other believers from all around the world.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17
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