Discover His heart: His blessings follow our obedience to Him
Many books and movies tell the story of the farmer who plants the seed and then waits for the sun and the rain to bless his efforts and bring about a bountiful crop. Because he has invested all he has on the seed, his investment is lost if the rain doesn’t come. The drama of waiting for a dark cloud, even a small one, to form in the sky is heart-wrenching to watch, and sometimes the families are on edge as they struggle with what to do next. Anytime a blessing from the Lord seems to be withheld from our lives, it gives cause to consider the reason.
“Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you.” (Haggai 1:5-7) The Israelites returned to Jerusalem with the specific instructions to rebuild the temple, but instead, they built their homes and did not work on the temple.
When life is not going well and our efforts seem in vain, it never hurts to examine what’s happening to us and to make sure we are following His plan for us. God’s love makes Him longsuffering, but He will do what is necessary to get our attention. When the Israelites realized their disobedience, they turned to the Lord and His gracious response was, “I am with you, says the Lord!” (13)
A drought or dry season in our life may have nothing to do with our willfulness, but it may be a testing time to develop character and prepare us to be used by Him. I’m sure the 40 years that Moses spent on the backside of the desert caused him to search his heart and question what was happening to him, but God was preparing him for great things.
When our efforts bring little reward and we feel that God’s blessing is not on them, it’s not time to blame Him or to resist Him. It’s the perfect time to look at what’s happening to us and evaluate our situation. Are we doing our best to follow His direction for us? If so, we can be confident that He “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) His blessings will come in due time.
Our obedience to God brings a promise to our lives like the one given to an obedient Israel after the foundation for the temple was laid, “Think carefully. I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn. You have not yet harvested your grain, and your grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced their crops. But from this day onward I will bless you.” (2:18-19) Regardless of how it comes or when it comes, obedience brings the blessing of the Lord to our lives.
Moving Forward: I am certain of His blessings in due time as I walk in obedience to Him.
Tomorrow @ Acts 13-14
Phyllis Benigas 