Obedience Is the Key to God’s Blessings

Every single one of God’s promises and blessings is tied to obedience. God NEVER rewards or blesses disobedience to his laws and commands. Those who disobey and rebel against God’s laws cannot be blessed by him.

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 1:19-20

God’s nature abhors disobedience. When we persist in breaking his commands, he withdraws his hand from us. And as a result, judgment comes upon us. The major way this happens is that he allows our enemies, spiritual and physical, to attack us. He hands us over, and we are exposed to the enemy’s (Satan’s) attacks.

The form in which these attacks manifest varies, but it’s always some form of destruction. It may be sickness, premature death, accidents, broken relationships, misfortunes, losses, failure, frustrations, barren and unfruitful lives, famine, natural disasters, drought, and so forth.

“For from the time I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt until today, I strongly warned them again and again, saying, ‘Obey My voice.’ Yet they would not obey or incline their ears, but each one followed the stubbornness of his evil heart. So I brought on them all the curses of this covenant I had commanded them to follow but they did not keep.” Jeremiah 11:7-8

An example from Israel’s disobedience

When Israel turned away from God’s laws, destruction always came upon them in the form of poverty, hard times, famine, being handed over to their enemies, increased violence, inhumanity, anarchy, rebellion, death, people turning against each other, and idolatry.

“But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs…they committed terrible blasphemies. So you delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to you. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.” Nehemiah 9:26-27

“So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.” 2 Kings 17:20

“And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity, because they were unfaithful to Me. So I hid my face from them and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, so that they all fell by the sword.” Ezekiel 39:23

Obedience comes with God’s favor, grace, and protection.

Now, of course, there are exceptions. God may allow hardships and suffering to test the faith of righteous ones (like in Job’s case). But tests usually do not last, and God’s presence and grace are present. But disobedience comes with the absence of God’s presence, and grace. A careful and honest examination of our lives can reveal to us if our misfortunes are because we are disobeying God in some area of our lives and refusing to repent.

God’s blessings come from his protection and favor. He withdraws these when we disobey him, and we are like a man without an umbrella in the rain. God’s blessings are not attracted by fasting, prayers from ‘special’ people, binding demons, or spiritual activities, but by obedience. If we are disobeying God, all the fasting, praying, and works in the world cannot help us. We cannot buy God’s blessings or manipulate him into blessing us. God’s blessings come from obedience to His laws and principles in every area of life.

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:25

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28

God’s blessings are conditional.

We should never think we can get away with sin and disobedience to God. In God’s eyes, there are no little commands. Commands like respect for authority, honoring parents and elders, honesty, giving to the poor, offerings, studying God’s word, or integrity, if violated, come at the cost of some of God’s blessings. The greatest cost of persistent disobedience is eternal damnation. The cost of disobedience is too high!

If you want to have a blessed life, obey God in every single area of your life. God’s promises are many, and each of them is tied to a condition. Long life has conditions, good health has conditions, financial prosperity has conditions, honor and respect have conditions, and so forth. God’s hearkening to and responding to our prayers is also conditional on our obedience.

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 28:1-2

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7

“This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.” Joshua 1:8

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