The Blessings Are Contingent Upon Obedience

As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.'
But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble.
All who pass by will be appalled and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?'  People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them -- that is why He brought all this disaster on them.' "
2 Chronicles 7:17-22


God is merciful, gracious and compassionate but He does not wink at sin. He desires to bless His children but He does not pour out His blessings upon sin and disobedience. No one can earn the blessings and favor of God. It is purely out of His grace and good nature. Nonetheless, Scripture makes it clear that obedience to God's word is the path to positioning ourselves to be blessed by Him.

Solomon interceded on behalf of God's people and the LORD heard him and promised to bless him and His people as long as they kept His laws and commands and did not fall into idol worship. He warned them of the consequences of disobedience. He warned them that disobedience will result in their being decimated as a people and the opulent temple being reduced to rubble. Israel would become a byword and an object of ridicule among the nations if they turned their backs on the God who faithfully delivered them out of slavery in Egypt. Solomon Himself would remain blessed as long as he walked obediently with the LORD as His father David had done.

There is simply no clearer way to put it: Obedience is the path to the blessings of God and disobedience is the path to destruction. Obedience is the path to life and disobedience is the path to death. No matter how enticing the attraction to disobedient acts might be, let us endeavor to walk the path of obedience. Only obedience positions us to remain "blessable" before God. The blessings of God are contingent upon obedience.

God's word to Joshua remains applicable today: "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." (Joshua 1:8). This word remains unchanging.

Prayer: Lord, I ask that you empower me by your Spirit to love and obey you in all I do. Amen.