DAY 34

BLESSING FOLLOWS OBEDIENCE

JON NICHOLAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRADITIONAL ENROLLMENT, MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

One of the beautiful realities of the Bible is that it is not simply a collection of disconnected stories; it is a single, unfolding narrative of God’s faithfulness, His heart for His people, and His call for us to trust and follow Him. Throughout Scripture, certain themes rise to the surface again and again, like threads woven through the tapestry of God’s story.

We see His power to redeem even the darkest failures: Joseph betrayed by his brothers becomes the instrument to save his family; Peter denying Jesus becomes the rock upon which the church is built. We see His mercy and compassion on display: Israel wandering in the wilderness, yet God continues to provide manna, water, and guidance. We see His presence drawing near to His people: whether in a burning bush, a tabernacle, a temple, or in the person of Jesus Himself.

But another unmistakable theme we find again and again is this: blessing always follows obedience.

When God speaks, His people are invited to respond. Their willingness to obey becomes the hinge point for what God wants to do in and through them. Think about Abraham in Genesis 12. God calls him to leave everything familiar, his land, his people, his father’s household, and promises, 

“I will bless you… and you will be a blessing.”

Abraham could have chosen comfort, but instead he obeyed. His obedience opened the door to blessing, not just for him, but for generations after him.

Or consider Joshua in Joshua 1. He is about to lead Israel into the promised land after years of wandering. God gives him a charge: 

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the lawmy servant Moses gave you… Then you will be prosperous and successful.

The blessing of victory, inheritance, and rest was tied directlyto obedience.

And in the New Testament, when Jesus tells Peter to cast his nets on the other side (Luke 5), Peter could have argued. He was the fisherman, Jesus was the rabbi. But instead, Peter responds,

“Because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

The result? Nets so full they begin to break. Obedience ledto blessing.

These stories are not just ancient history. They are living reminders of what God continues to do today. I’ve seen it firsthand.

One of the biggest steps of obedience for our family was our move from Nashville to Michigan in 2003. We didn’t go looking for the opportunity, and honestly, we didn’t want to leave the comfort, friends, and security we had built. But we knew God was stirring something new in us. It was clear He was calling us into a new season of ministry, even though it came with unknowns and uncertainties. The decision wasn’t easy. We wrestled with questions, fears, and the grief of leaving behind what we loved. Yet, once we chose to obey, God proved Himself faithful in ways we could not have imagined. He blessed our marriage, our family, our ministry, and every aspect of our lives. When we stepped into what He asked, He poured out blessing, not always in material ways, but in peace, in fruitfulness, and in joy.

I also remember a lesson from my college years. God was asking me to stay home for a summer, to work, rest, and refocus my priorities. After a couple of years of extensive travel, I needed to slow down and realign with Him. But when the director of the college music ministry called and invited me to travel again for the summer, I caved. I accepted the offer, even though I knew in my heart it was disobedience. The moment I hung up the phone, conviction hit me like a wave. I tried to suppress it, but God, in His mercy, would not let me ignore His voice. Within fifteen minutes, I was back on the phone, humbly telling the director I could not accept. It was embarrassing. It felt like failure. But as soon as I hung up, an overwhelming peace flooded over me. That summer turned out to be one of the most formative seasons of my life, filled with friendships, growth, savings for the future, and deepening in my walk with God. Looking back, I can see clearly: obedience opened the door to blessing.

Still, obedience does not mean a life without hardship. Jesus Himself told His disciples, 

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Life in a fallen world guarantees struggle. The promise of obedience is not the absence of trials, but the presence of God in the midst of them. He offers grace and peace that surpass understanding. He uses trials to mold us into who He created us to be. And He never abandons us. His Spirit gives us the assurance we are right where we are supposed to be.

That truth became especially real for us most recently, when our family faced another decision that required obedience. After 22 years serving at an incredible church with people we deeply loved, God began to stir our hearts again. The Spirit made it clear: change was coming. We were faced with a choice: stay in the safety and comfort of a thriving ministry, surrounded by a staff we cherished and a community that had become family, or step into an unknown future full of risk and uncertainty. Humanly speaking, staying made more sense. But we knew what God was asking of us. Because we had experienced His faithfulness before, the decision, though painful, was not difficult. Once we knew the Lord was calling, we trusted that He would care for us and walk with us. Today, we are only at the beginning of this new journey. It has not been easy. There are hard days, days when the ache of leaving still feels fresh. But alongside that ache is an unmistakable peace that can only come from Him. It is God’s past faithfulness that gives us confidence in His future provision and once again we are trusting that blessing will follow obedience. 

Jesus made the connection between love and obedience unmistakable:

If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15

Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:17

Our obedience is the truest measure of our love. It’s one thing to say we love Jesus or sing about our devotion to Him. It’s another to demonstrate that love through our actions, through trust, surrender, and obedience to His voice.

So today, I want to encourage you. What is God asking of you right now? Is there a step of faith He is nudging you to take? Is there a place where obedience feels costly, but you sense His Spirit calling you forward? It might be a big decision like moving, changing jobs, or stepping into ministry. Or it might be a daily choice like extending forgiveness, serving someone in need, or surrendering a habit that has a grip on your life. Whatever it is, trust Him. On the other side of obedience is peace, growth, and blessing!

PRAYER: Lord, thank You that Your ways are good and that Your plans for us are always for our ultimate blessing and growth. Give me courage to obey You in the big decisions and the small ones. When fear rises, remind me of Your past faithfulness. When doubts creep in, surround me with Your peace. May my love for You be more than words. May it be seen in my obedience. I trust You, Lord. Lead me, and I will follow. In Jesus’ name, amen.