Obedience = blessings
Exodus 12:37, “Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. 38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock.”
We live in a, “What’s in it for me world.” Every action that we do is done for us, and our reards. People commit no totally selfless acts.
With that being said I believe it’s ok for us to want something in return for our actions. Let’s get real for a minute. Do we follow God because:1) We love God. 2) We appreciate the sacrifice He made for us. 3) We don’t want to go to hell. 4) We want to see others, and ourselves blessed by God.
You could probably check off all four of those. We love God and we deeply appreciate the sacrifice He made, and noone wants to go to hell(not even the most hardcore Satan worshipper) if they have a real understanding of what hell is; but also we follow God and do what He asks because of the blessings that we and others will receive. That’s ok, God wants to bless His children who obey Him. Please don’t misread me I’m not saying that you will get a Pink Cadillac if you obey. Over the centuries some of the most devout followers of God struggled in daily life, but they all knew that they had a blessing that they could not yet see. The Apostle Paul understood that his blessings were not in this world. He wrote to the church at Corinth, II Corinthians 12:9, “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. ”
The bllessings that we recieve are not monetary or posessions, but the blessings of God will come to us in His presence. If we are not sattisfied with God, and God alone; then no amount of money will satisfy us. The presence of God will be and is a blessing to us, but as we draw closer to Him and obey His command that will produce a blessing to others. The story of the Ethiopian eunuch found in Acts 8(click here) is a story exemplifying how others can be blessed by our obedience to God’s command.
As you go throughout the day I urge you to listen for the gentle voice of God. It may come to as you read His Word; it might come as you listen to a song, or it may come as you meditate on Him. When you hear the voice of God, you will be blessed as you obey, and not only you but others will be blessed!
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Father, I thank You for promising to bless me and others as I obey You, and I ask that You would remind me that Your blessings are not in material posessions, but they come in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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Yes, You Can Ministry 