Deut 5:29   Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

       

This was Moses recounting what the Lord had said to him. He had been pleased with their initial response to Him and just wished that throughout the future their responses would be just as good. There is, therefore, first of all the question of maintaining consistency of response. When we first came to the Lord, we came in complete surrender (you can't receive salvation any other way), but have we maintained that same submission ever since? When we first came to Him we came with total availability, but have we maintained that same availability ever since?

 

The second issue is that of obedience and blessing, for the two go together. God gives us His commands or directions so that our lives will go well. If we disregard them, then we go astray and fail to receive the blessing of God because He will not bless disobedience. Some of the early church were even dying because of their poor attitudes and behaviour (see 1 Cor 11:30) and many were weak and sick.

There is a very real correlation between obedience and blessing and disobedience and a poor quality of life. God's commands are because He knows best how we ‘work' and when we conform to the Creator's design standard then we will ‘function well' and be blessed. When we disregard what He says we will ‘break down' and ‘malfunction'. Love, joy peace etc. go with obedience. How many of us don't quite get it because we ‘cut corners'?