Simple Obedience

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 28:2

D.L. MOODY
Do you know every man who was blessed while Christ was on Earth, was blessed in the act of obedience? 
Ten lepers came to Him, and He said, “Go shew [show] yourselves unto the priests” (Luke 17:14). They might have said, “What good is that going to do us? It was the priest that sent us away from our families.” But they said nothing. And it came to pass, that as they went, they were healed. Do you want to get rid of the leprosy of sin? Obey God. You say you don’t feel like it. Did you always feel like going to school when you were a boy or a girl? Supposing a man only went to business when he felt like it, he would fail in a few weeks. 
Jesus said to another man, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,” and as he washed, he received his sight (John 9:7). He was blessed in the act of obedience. 
The prophet said to Naaman, “Go and dip seven times in Jordan,” and while he was dipping, he was healed (2 Kings 5:1–14). Simple obedience.

ERWIN LUTZER
Sometimes obedience doesn’t make sense. When Christ’s disciples had toiled all night on Galilee and yet caught no fish, Jesus said, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter objected because this was the wrong time of day (fishing at night was more profitable), and because it was in the wrong place (in the daytime, fish were more plentiful near the shore). But then Peter said, “But at your word I will let down the nets” (see Luke 5:4–5). The result was nets so full of fish they needed help to bring them in. 
We must obey and leave the oft unexpected consequences to God.

PRAYER
Father, help me to obey you and seek your face—not just for the blessings but to grow in love for you.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How have you seen God bless your obedience and faithfulness to Him?

Does obedience always bring blessing? How do you remain faithful in obedience even when you don’t see blessing?