“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:23-25)

We all want the blessings of God. The problem is that we are not prepared to receive the blessings of God. While Jesus was with the people teaching and demonstrating His power as the Son of God and the Son of Man, a woman called out. “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” (Luke 11:27) Jesus responded by saying, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28) Here Jesus gives us the key to God’s blessing. It is to know the word of God, and to obey the word of God. We come to know God by faith in who Jesus is and what He has done. We are now to live in that faith by trusting God through our obedience.

Jesus demonstrated to us His trust in the Father through His obedience. He said, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10-11) Jesus’ obedience took Him to the cross. This would lead to Paul’s description of Jesus. “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8) In obedience on the cross, Jesus would express His faith, His absolute trust in the Father. He called out to the Father saying, “’Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46)

God’s blessing to all of us comes through His blessing of Jesus as Jesus would overcome death in His resurrection. The blessing came through Jesus’ faith and obedience as the Son of God. It was displayed as He came to us as one of us, the Son of Man. Now we prepare to receive God’s blessing the same way; we have faith and we obey.

It is the Hymn writer, John H. Simmis, who would put this truth in a song.

“When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

“Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, or we’ll walk by his side in the way; what he says we will do, where he sends we will go; never fear, only trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Through our faith and obedience, we live showing our identification with Jesus Christ. “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’” (John 14:23)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block