All good blessings are in the hands of God. Thus, as believers we all believe and expect that God blesses us with good things. Blessings are a sure way of God’s goodness to us; He shows His immaculate love to us by them. We often desire to be blessed, because of various circumstances. It is not at all wrong. For when we obey Him He does not regress from blessing us. The Bible is full of examples of it. He blesses us in different ways. Sometimes they are not what we assume or want, but they are certainly the best. God’s blessings to His children are never second best. Whatever He gives, they suit us and our circumstances, and they honor us. As we go forward in life He adds more to what He has already given.
When conditions do not suit us, it is easy to feel that God does not bless us. We feel our emotions have tricked us to believe He blesses us. But, this is further from the truth. For God is greater than our conditions and emotions. The only thing we must consider is His Word. “If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit” (Lev. 26:3-4). We have the ability and strength to discern our obedience to Him. If we want to see our life in its best state, God is the way to it. And keeping His statutes and commandments is quintessential. Believers are sometimes led to think they have to do greater things to receive better things from God. But, it is the devil’s deception. The more they think by his way, the more they indulge in the flesh, and it leads to vanity. But, God has put before us a simplest way to receive His rewards and blessings, and He described it in the above verse.
What happens when we keep His statutes and commandments is the overcoming of sin and the ways of Satan. For instance, when we don’t lie, we defeat the father of all lies. When we don’t hate or steal or speak perverse language, we do not give opportunity for sin to reign in us. As we are holy, the Lord God yearns to bless us. And James too in his writing said true believers are doers of the Word and not merely listeners of it.
You may not have the best of education and your profession may not bring you everything that other professions bring, but it is besides the issue for God. If you obey Him, it is all that matters for Him to bless you immensely; He is a God with power. When you are obeying Him, you are indeed getting closer and closer to Him and He is the kind of Father who has the greatest of compassion and love. Simple things do matter to Him and we should not falter in them. So, start checking your obedience to Him in simple things. Seek His strength to get right in them. Begin looking to Him as your only friend, protector and guide. Do not trust in circumstances, people and possessions; they are all very well capable of failing and hurting you. As you obey Him, what you cannot control He controls and delivers you. He changes the tide for you; even people’s hearts. He replaces your bad emotions with the good so that you see Him as One who increases your peace. In a short while your dimness will turn into brightness.
So, continue to keep His statutes and commandments. Do not relax or faint, for He is a God who eagerly waits to bless you. Those who said you can do no better will be ashamed and those who never understood you will be in awe; your well wishers will praise God. Your deliverance is indeed by His blessings.
So, while God will do no injustice to us and while we intend to be blessed by Him, let us look at the obedience we ought to have during different times.
- David was running from his son Absalom, who intended to kill him. As a king he does not need to run. Yet, the commandments of God spoke to him differently. He left the matter into God’s hand. And while he was escaping with his men, a member of Saul’s family cursed him. His men wanted to kill him, but he stopped them from doing so. He said, “Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and return good to me instead of his cursing this day” (2 Sam. 16:12). When people are warring with us to destroy us and humiliate us, what do we do? Do we do an eye for an eye? David chose to leave it to God by His statutes. In time his deliverance came. God will certainly look on our affliction, if we are obeying Him.
- When we are obeying God, men would like to join us or they would want us to join them. Be careful not to join any unbelievers or believers in sheep’s clothing. They will destroy your keeping His statutes and commandments. “They approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, ‘Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here’” (Ezra 4:2). I recently faced a situation like it and God’s wisdom guided me against them. Now, they are raising a battle against me and my endeavors to fulfill His will. I chose to remain calm and let God handle the matter. I am sure it will work out in my favor, for He’s handling it well.
- There will be times when we are helpless. At such times fear enters us; worry becomes our friend; nothing works our way. The best approach to it is David’s way. “I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4). Then, you will immediately find relief, for God speaks His mind to you. In due time He will bless you to deliver you.
- What do you do in times of persecution and injustice? The answer is trust in God. He never ignores His children. He waits for the right time and delivers. He is an impact creator. When you see Him bless you, you will know. “How then will one answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, and the afflicted of His people will seek refuge in it” (Isa. 14:32).
- In times when doubts and inadequacies overpower us, we feel we may not receive His blessings. At these times we must believe God is not a respecter of persons. If He called us through Christ, we are bound to be blessed by Him. It will take time; sometimes delays are inevitable either for our sake or for the sake of His intention. But, you are never a nobody to receive His blessings. “…the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes” (Dan. 4:25).
- What do you do when you don’t feel like obeying Him? It happens when the flesh is tempted with the supposedly beautiful things of the world. Jesus has the answer for it. “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24).