Blessings for Obedience

While all biblical character qualities are important, obedience - specifically, obedience to God's commands - is a foundational character trait of the Christian life. Many other character qualities stem from obedience.

If you grew up in a Christian home, you were probably taught to "obey quickly, sweetly, and completely," or you weren't really obeying  (a common cliché in Christian circles).

Someone has defined obedience as "complete submission to God's revealed will." I rather like that definition. It's been helpful to me as I seek to grow in this area of my life.

After God gave instruction to Moses about the Law (later called the Mosaic Law), Moses listed the blessings they would receive if they chose to fully obey God's Law.

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.  

Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.  

Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.  

Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.  

The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.  

The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.  

The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.  

And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.  

And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.  

The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.  

And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: 

{Deuteronomy 28:1-13}

Job and Jeremiah also mention some of the blessings of obedience. 

If they obey and serve him [God], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 

{Job 36:11}

Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. 

{Jeremiah 38:20}

Theses verses certainly aren't an exhaustive list of the blessings God bestows on obedient Christians - I'm sure there are other verses/principles I've overlooked. The verses I've listed above make it clear that God blesses obedience - "complete submission to God's revealed will."

Even with all the blessings and "benefits" that result from obedience, we should obey simply because . . . God said to. That should be enough for us.

Are you obeying for the blessings and "benefits," or are you obeying simply because you want to please God and honor His command to obey?

Something to think about. 

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Christ's Example of Godliness

"Jesus Christ" by Heinrich Hofmann

We all know that our lives are to be characterized by godliness. Many verses in the Bible mention this concept of godliness, or "the working of God in a person's life to make that person more like Himself" (definition mine). A few examples:

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 

{I Timothy 4:7-8}

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

{I Timothy 6:6}

 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. {I Timothy 6:11}

One verse in particular helps give us a better understanding of the nature of godliness.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 

{I Timothy 3:16}

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the ultimate manifestation of godliness because He was God in human form ("in the flesh"). A look at His time on earth reveals several ways in which Christ exemplified godliness. 

Christ's Examples of Godliness

1. Christ's love for all people. 

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {Matthew 22:39}

2. Christ's desire for the Gospel to be proclaimed to everyone.

 Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. {Mark 16:15} 

3. Christ obeyed His Father's commandments.

 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. {John 15:10}

4. Christ put the needs of others before Himself.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. {II Corinthians 8:9} 

5.  Christ was committed to do the will of God, no matter the price.

Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. {Matthew 26:39}

6.  Christ showed His love for God's House.

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. {Matthew 21:12-13}

7. Christ set the example for how we should pray.

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. {Luke 6:12}

Christ's life is the perfect example of godliness. Why not use it as a blueprint for your own life as you seek to live in a godly way?

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What Children Can Teach Us

"Every child you encounter is a divine appointment." {Wess Stafford}

"Only where children gather is there any real chance of fun." {Mignon McLaughlin}

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." {Nelson Mandela}

"Children are our most valuable resource." {Herbert Hoover}

"Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven." {Henry Ward Beecher}

That's just a small sampling of the many, many things have been said about children. Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, or someone who has interacted with children in various settings, you know how trying children can be for your sanctification (*wink*). Although children certainly can be a handful, there are a great many things we "older folks" can learn from them.

Scripture has plenty to say about this.

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

{Psalm 127:3}

Children are blessings from the Lord, and are to be treated accordingly. If God has entrusted children to your care, He has given you the privilege of being responsible for the lives - both physical and spiritual - of those little blessings.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 

{Proverbs 22:6}

If you are a parent, you are responsible for your child's growth and development - physical, emotional, spiritual, and in every other aspect. Yes, this includes training and instruction, but they also learn by example and observation. You know the saying: "Actions speak louder than words." Children are watching you and learning from you, even if you aren't always conscious of it. Someone has said, "Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate."

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 

{Proverbs 22:15}

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 

{Proverbs 23:13}

A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. 

{Proverbs 29:15}

Children are fallen, sinful people, just like we "older folks" are. Discipline is a necessary aspect of biblical parenthood in order to raise children who fear God, obey authority and respect others. However, this does not justify abuse or neglect. It must be done in such a way that the child understands it is being done out of love for him/her.

Jesus had much to say regarding children.

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, ad said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. {Matthew 18:1-6}

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. {Mark 10:15}

Children have a simple, humble faith and trust in those they love (parents, grandparents, older siblings, etc). They have a confident expectation that those who love them will take care of them. That's the kind of faith Jesus tells us is part of the process of salvation.

Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. {Matthew 19:13-14}

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. {Mark 10:13-14, 16}

Jesus chided the disciples for trying to keep the children away from Him. They were just as important to Him as the adults He was ministering to.

Children bring a tremendous amount of joy and laughter wherever they go, and that certainly is a blessing. God manifests His sense of humor through the amusing things children do and say. Some of the funniest things I've ever heard have come from the mouths of children.

When children are selfish and/or disobedient, it can certainly try our patience as we seek to discourage such behavior, discipline them for it (when necessary), and try to encourage obedient, others-focused behavior. Such times serve as a sobering rebuke about how we treat God and/or respond to His commands sometimes.

A Little Child

The nature of a little child, I simply could not see

How such a nature could become a part of me.

The pride of years would never let my Savior to the Throne,

But crowned me King and kept me where I reigned, just I alone.

This pride, oh, what a horrid thing! Kept me from bending low,

So, through the Kingdom's door, you see, I simply could not go.

Thus all the beauty of His realm was on the other side;

Oh, what I missed, oh, what I lacked, because of my old pride!

Then, oh the wonder of that day, I saw what I should do;

I said, "Lord Jesus, I step down and give the throne to You."

And so when I by faith obeyed, a miracle of grace,

Within this haughty heart of mine, that moment did take place.

For all at once I knew, I felt humble and meek and mild,

And saw that God had given me the nature of a child.

Now, would I, dare I, could I try once more the Kingdom's door?

I longed to, yet it looked so low, so near unto the floor.

But beckoned by the pierced Hand which had removed my sin,

Upon my knees, now weak and small a child, I entered in.

I entered in, oh bless the day, I entered through that door,

And all His Kingdom lay ahead for children to explore.

And so, diminished as I am, stripped of all else but grace,

I live, a trusting little child, and look upon His face.

And now there is but One supreme who rules and wears the crown,

And that great miracle began the moment I stepped down.

Now it's your turn: do you have any additional thoughts or insights? What other lessons can you think of that the Lord has taught you through children? Leave a comment below!

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Humility: God's Principle for Success

In a kingdom, there is only one king. Everyone else is a subject of the king. What the king says, the subject must do. The word "subject" comes from the same root word as "submission," which is a yielding of your authority or your will to another. The subject can disobey the king, but he/she must be willing to suffer the consequences.

The life of a subject would be hard if you had to obey a wicked or selfish king. Your King is powerful, good, and kind. His commands bring joy to His subjects.

What does the Bible have to say about this?


If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. {II Chronicles 7:14}


Notice the first qualification in that list: humility. God required that His people humble themselves first before He restored them.

Before honour is humility. {Proverbs 15:33; 18:12}


This verse is pretty self-explanatory: if you want honor/success, you must learn humility first.

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. {Proverbs 22:4}


This passage is pretty self-explanatory, as well. Humility is one of the biggest qualifying factors in the Christian life if you desire to be blessed by God, materially and spiritually.


And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. {Matthew 23:12}


If you exalt yourself, God will humble you. If you humble yourself, God will be pleased to exalt you.

Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: {I Peter 5:5-6}


Notice that verse 6 says that you are to humble yourself. Why do you need to be the one to do the humbling? Because it is an act of the will.

Verse 6 also tells us the reward of humbling ourselves before God: He will exalt us. Why is it appropriate for God to do the exalting? Because He is the only one who can exalt.

{ Humility takes self off the throne of your heart and puts God on the throne. }

You have a choice before you every day. You can choose to obey and clothe yourself with humility, or you can try to run your life on your own terms, in your own prideful way, and face the consequences.


Which path will you choose today?

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What is Biblical Forgiveness?

Photo by Myrna Moore

When you have suffered at another's hand, the last thing you want to do is forgive. You pride tells you not to forgive. It tells you that you have the right to be offended.

God is very specific about the Christian's responsibility to forgive. There are no exceptions to this command. We must forgive, whether we feel like it or not; whether we think the the person who offended us deserves our forgiveness or not.

When Jesus was asked, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?," this was his response:

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. {Matthew 22: 37-40}

 What is biblical forgiveness? It is a promise that you will not deal with those who have offended you, hurt you, or sinned against you. It is a promise that you will not bring the offense up to them or anyone else ever again.

You are to forgive because God forgave you.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. {Ephesians 4:32}

Forgiveness is...

• not an apology. Apologies are what you do/say to explain yourself. "I did that because..." "I said that because..."
• not forgetting. When God forgives your sin, He chooses to remember it no more. Forgiveness is a choice, an act of the will to remember the offense no more.
• not a matter of faith or spirituality. Forgiveness is simply obedience to a direct command of God.
• not a feeling. You don't forgive because you feel like it. You forgive because you are commanded by God to do it.

Christ gave us an example in Scripture of our choice to respond according to our feelings or to respond in obedience to God's commands.

But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. {Luke 17:7-10}

The servant in this parable was probably exhausted and hungry from working all day. You might be thinking, "How unfair for the master to require more of him than was expected!" But the servant was required to obey his master, regardless of whether his feelings about how he was being treated were legitimate or not.

Your feelings may be legitimate based on what you have experienced or are experiencing. But your feelings are not to be your master. God is your Master. God commands you to stop living according to your feelings and just obey. Obedience is not the extra mile; it is your duty as a servant.

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. {Colossians 3:13} 

You are to forgive because God has forgiven you. he has given you mercy and withheld judgment. He wants you to give mercy and allow him, the Righteous Judge, to administer judgment to those who have hurt you. Mercy is no longer hoping in your heart that hurt or evil comes upon those who hurt you. You give up the desire to punish of hurt the one who has hurt you. Mercy and forgiveness walk hand in hand. You never see one without the other.

God has given specific instructions about how Christians are to treat those who have hurt them.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. {Luke 6:27-31}

Jesus, having suffered all the shame, the physical and emotional abuse, the rejection, and the sins of the world, lifted His voice to heaven and prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." He forgave so that you may be forgiven and, following his example, can also forgive.

When you humble yourself as a servant before the Lord and determine to obey His command to forgive, you witness to the world Christ's forgiveness of sin. Christ died for the sins of those who hurt you in the past, who who are hurting you now and those who will hurt you in the future.

Now, forgiveness does not mean:

• the hurt you experienced was justified.
• the blame rests upon you for the hurt inflicted.
• you are going to confront the offender.
• all memories of the offense and the offender will vanish the moment you forgive.
• there is no pain or sense of loss involved in the forgiving of the offender.
• that the other person was right.
• that the other person controls you.

Yield in obedience to Christ and choose to forgive all of those who have hurt you. This initial act of forgiveness is crucial, but keep in mind that forgiveness is to be continual. As these offenses come up in your mind again - and they will - you must lay them at the foot of the Cross once again, remembering that you have given forgiveness. 

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. {C.S. Lewis}

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Names of God: Jehovah-Jireh

"The Lord our Provider" or "the Lord who provides." Not "the Lord our Sometimes Provider" or "the Lord who might provide if he feels like it." He has promised to always provide for the needs of His children.

The Bible records many, many examples of God's provision. God promised to provide a son for the childless Abraham. Abraham's barren wife, Sarah, miraculously bore Isaac several years later (see Genesis 15-18 and Genesis 21 for the full account). God rescued the children of Israel from their multiple centuries of bondage in Egypt and provided for their material needs as He led them through the wilderness to the Promised Land (see Exodus for the whole story). God used ravens to provide for Elijah's material needs while he hid from his enemies (see I Kings 17:2-6). God worked through Elijah to provide food for the widow of Zarephath and her son (I Kings 17:7-24). The list goes on and on.

Seeking to try Abraham's faith once again,God told Abraham to give Isaac back to the Him in the form of a burnt offering.

Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee to the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains, which I will tell thee of {Genesis 22:2}.

If you are a parent, you can imagine the incredible pain Abraham must have struggled with when God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac. He had waited so long for God to fulfill His promised provision of a son, and now it seemed that God was going to remove this precious child from him.

Nevertheless, he obeyed.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass [donkey], and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God told him {Genesis 22:3}. 


Notice what he says when Isaac asks him about the sacrifice.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering {Genesis 22:7-8}.


What incredible faith in God's provision!

Right as Abraham is about to kill Isaac on the altar, a heavenly presence identified as "the angel of the LORD" (v. 11) stops him.

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing to him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. {Genesis 22:12}.


Because of Abraham's faith and obedience, God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice in place of Isaac.

God promises to meet any need we have.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. {Philippians 4:19}

However, sometimes what we think of as "needs" are really just wants. This raises a very important question: How do we distinguish between a need and a want? Paul answers that question in a letter to Timothy.


But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment [clothing] let us be therewith content. {I Timothy 6:6-8}


What need do you have today? Perhaps you have unpaid bills, an empty pantry, a threadbare closet, or a bank balance in the red. These situations can easily dishearten us and cause our faith to falter in God's promises to provide for our needs. Remember that God is bigger than any need you face. He is Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord YOUR Provider. 

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