As a Christian we are told that the pathway to blessings come from being obedient to the commandments of the Lord. You see when we obey God we set into motion a series of consequences, that according to Scripture, bring us great reward. I believe that as we fall more in love with Jesus, we can feel more and more confident that whatever consequences ensue from our obedience, they will prove to be a blessing.
Both Oswald Chambers and Charles Stanley tell us that we need to let God determine what the consequences of our obedience to His commands will be. According to Chambers: “Let the consequences of your obedience be left up to God.”1 Stanley echoes the same sentiment: “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”2
My friends not only is this good advice but Scripture tells us that obedience brings with it amazing benefits. In one of my favorite passages in the Bible, (Psalm 19:7-11), the sweet psalmist David gives us a wonderful theology of obedience and consequences:
“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
Notice in this above passage that David uses different words for the commands of the Lord, such as law, statutes, precepts, and decrees. Notice also that when we obey these commands we receive a refreshing of the soul, wisdom, joy in our hearts, and light to our eyes. David also tells us that God’s commands are more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. And he closes the passage by telling us that his commands serve as warnings as to what can happen if we don’t obey His Word, and as our entrance into His great storehouse of blessings when we do obey.
May I challenge you to put the Lord to the test the next time you are faced with a decision to either obey or not obey His clear leading. I have found that doing it God’s way always brings with it real peace and abundant joy, even if it may also bring persecution and unpopularity. May I also challenge you for the next 30 days to re-read (Psalm 19:7-11) every day – I guarantee you will be richly blessed!