Obedience then Blessing

There is a basic principle at play throughout redemptive history that is all but ignored in modern Christianity.  It is the fact that blessing follows obedience, not the other way around.  The reality is presented throughout the Bible, particularly in regards to the covenants.  The Scripture is replete with if-then language that should not be overlooked.  At the onset, it is essential to point out that this is not works-based-righteousness.  No one can ever earn salvation.

At its most fundamental, think of Rom. 10:9: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  There are conditional qualifications to salvation: confession, belief, then salvation.  All of this points to an implied order or sequence to redemption.

The Word is pregnant with this concept, again, especially in regards to the covenants.  For instance, Noah had to build an ark in the desert but was then blessed, just as Abraham had to leave his home and family but was later blessed.  Similarly, Moses had to lead the Israelites through the Exodus before they were blessed with the covenant.  Joshua and the Israelites had to be obedient to the command to take the Promised Land before it was given into their hands.  And David was not blessed with full kingship until after he had been obedient under Saul for a period of time.  Elijah had to arrange the situation on Mount Carmel and drench the altar before God showed up to burn the offering.  Sense a theme?  However, in many ways this is much more than a thematic element, it is a basic truth to Christian life.

There is relevance to this in the life of believers too.  Many people have conversion experiences but for some reason they fall away from the faith and never reach the full blessings promised and delivered through Christ.  It can be called backsliding.  The reality is much starker though.

When people who claim Christ do not receive their full share of the blessings, unfortunately, it is indicative that they have not followed-through their conversion with obedience.  In many ways, the conversion experience is a mere taste, just a sample of the riches of God to be found in Jesus.  If we want the whole meal, we need to be obedient.  Think of it logically, if salvation's joy is about gaining a relationship with the Almighty, then it makes sense that non-obedient negligence should not be rewarded with the gift of relational blessing.  Needless to say, this is a challenging teaching but it is biblical.  Blessing requires obedience.

It is true that whoever seeks after and pursues God will be blessed; however, receiving the full blessings promised by the Lord through Christ requires obedience over time.  Many disciplines are at play: patience, wisdom, strength, perseverance, waiting, etc.  But the point is simple: if we are obedient to Him and to His Word and we will be blessed.