Our children were given the privilege of a cell phone when they were each about 16. We knew that they would be out and about more, and we wanted them to be able to call home if they needed anything.
Only because of their obedience did they receive the blessing of that cell phone.
Have you ever rewarded obedience? Has your obedience ever been rewarded?
You might be wondering why it was important for our children to be very obedient before they got their phone. The cell phone plan did not have a text package, and the minutes were also not plentiful. If they disobeyed the rules with the cell phone they would rack up a huge bill quickly.
We wanted to bless them with the cell phone. I am glad they were obedient. Their obedience made it possible for us to bless them.
Parents bless children according to their abilities, and their obedience.
Sometimes God’s ability to bless us in the way He wants to bless us is hindered by our disobedience. Much depends on us as to how and if God blesses us.
Consider the Israelites.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
Numbers 13:1-2
And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
Numbers 13:25-28
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
Numbers 13:30-31
Of the group, Caleb and Joshua were the only two Israelites that got to enter the promise land. The rest died in the wilderness. It was their children that inherited the land. They missed out on the blessing God had for them because they were disobedient. They let their fear come between them and God. They missed the blessing altogether.
How many times have you stood and watched your blessing from afar? Is it just out of your reach because of your disobedience? Is fear holding you back?
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to realize that sometimes we do not have because we are disobedient. The disobedience may stem from fear, but it is disobedience all the same. God will not force us to obey. The choice to obey is ours.
Does it make you wonder how many blessings you have missed because you would not obey? What blessing are you missing today because you have not surrendered to Him? Pray and ask God to show you.