“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.” [Deuteronomy 28:1]

We must clearly understand that we must follow the Lord’s commandments to honor our contract with the Lord regardless of consequence. Our obedience should not be motivated by whether or not the outcome benefits us. Meaning, we should not follow the Lord’s commandments because we seek a beneficial outcome for ourselves. Wherever it may lead, we keep our contract with the Lord because we seek to obey the Lord. The outcome is up to the Lord and should have no bearing on how we act.

If keeping the Lord’s word seems to lead to our destruction, should we keep it? What will be the outcome? We do not know, and it must not enter into our decision to obey the Lord. Daniel continued to pray though it meant being thrown into the lions’ den. To pray was to keep the Lord’s commandment. Though it would lead to death, Daniel chose to follow the Lord’s law. He did not base his decision on what would be the best outcome for himself, but Daniel chose to act based on what the Lord’s direction demanded. Daniel did not expect any return for his obedience, but the Lord brought him safely out of the lions’ den, caused the demise of his enemies, and raised him in his position because he honored his contract with the Lord.

“All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God.”

When we keep His word, we receive His blessings because the Lord, who will always honor his contract with us, delivers those blessings. Be clear. When we keep the word of the Lord, the situation does not cause the good result. The Lord makes it happen. We are blessed because we obey the Lord’s commandments, and He causes us to succeed. Peter spends the whole night unable to catch fish. Jesus asks him to cast a net where he knew from years of experience would not yield fish, especially during the day. Yet, Peter obeys and catches so much fish that it overflows his nets and boat. Did he catch this fish because he threw his net in the right direction? No! Peter was successful because he obeyed the direction of Jesus, and Jesus delivered the fish to him.

Thinking we can deliver good results through effort, strength, wisdom, and experience is one approach to living our lives. Another approach is to follow the Lord’s direction at each moment and honor our contract with Him regardless of the outcome. Choose the latter! We must act not to achieve the best results but to obey the Lord’s teaching and direction. The Lord takes responsibility if we keep our contract with him.

Many follow the Lord’s direction when it looks sensible and leads to positive results, but they falter when obeying seems headed for destruction. This person puts more belief in the situation than honoring the Lord’s commandments. We must not put power in the situation but focus purely on obeying the Lord’s direction and purpose. At each moment in our lives, we must obey the Lord and have full faith that the Lord, with whom we have our contract, is more powerful than any calamity that may befall us! Following our faith may result in hardship, pain, and suffering at first. However, if we persevere, though we may suffer in the short-term, we will achieve a greater, lasting glory in our eternal salvation. The Lord promises this to us. We may endure hardship and difficulty when we obey, but the Lord promises He will bless us ten-fold, hundred-fold, and raise us above all nations. Keeping the Lord’s truth and following His purpose in the face of seeming destruction and pain is the way of the cross. It may look foolhardy to the unbeliever, but the way of the cross leads us to Christ.

Follow the Lord’s truth. We read the Bible, listen to sermons, and pray to find the Lord’s direction. Follow that no matter where it leads because we believe in the contract with the Lord. Once we find His path for us, we must push forward relentlessly without fear. Do not be afraid. Nothing else matters. Keeping our contract with the Lord must be our sole focus. Whatever we suffer, we will receive blessings many times greater. Keeping our contract with the Lord is more important than work, success, family… When following the Lord puts us in danger, we must be more emphatic about adhering to the Bible. Because we do not believe this way, we fail in achieving our salvation. We fail because we act according to worldly wisdom. Whatever path the Lord sets for us – government official, business owner, laborer – first seek to follow the Lord’s purpose regardless of where it may lead! Our primary focus is to obey and honor our contract with the Lord.
Summary

1. Follow the Lord’s commandments no matter the outcome.
2. When we obey Him, the Lord controls the outcome and will keep his promise to bless us for our obedience.

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