Obedience, the Fuel to God’s Blessing

Happy Monday to our CFC family;

Yesterday, in our morning service, I shared a message called “When the Brook Dries Up.” In it, I talked about how sometimes God closes one door of provision (like when the brook stopped flowing for Elijah), only to open another one.

To me, the one thing that really stood out in the story of Elijah and the Widow was how ‘obedience’ played a central role in seeing God’s doors open in our live. Truth is, it’s not just about ‘knowing God’s plan,’ that is important, but also the willingness to take the seemingly small and sometimes odd steps He asks us to take to get there, even when it’s hard or doesn’t make sense.

Looking at Elijah and the widow, we can see this clearly:

- Elijah had to trust God and go to the brook as instructed and eat the bread and meat the ravens provided for him.

- Elijah had to listen carefully and follow God’s next instruction to go to Zarephath to meet the widow.

- The Widow had to obey God’s messenger, Elijah, by giving him food first, even though she barely had enough for herself.

In every step, it was their obedience that made the difference between receiving God’s blessing and missing it.

Before heading to bed last night, I decided to check my emails and noticed one from Gerald Klassen. In his message, he wrote that my morning sermon could be summed up in a single phrase:

“Obedience is the fuel to God’s blessing.”

I smiled and thought, “Yes—that’s exactly what that story shows!” I even wrote back, jokingly thanking him for giving me the perfect theme for this week’s Pastor’s Pen.

The truth is, many of us—often without even realizing it—have, at times, blocked God’s plans in our own lives, and even in the lives of others, simply because we didn’t follow through in obedience to what He asked. We long for the blessing, yet hesitate to take the very steps of obedience that would bring it to us.

Take the story of the widow in Zarephath. That day, she and her son were down to their last meal. If Elijah had not been obedient to go see her, they would have likely perished from hunger. Later, when her son became sick and died, it was Elijah’s obedience in following God’s guidance that allowed him to pray and see the boy revived (1 Kings 17:17–24).

Their lives were directly impacted by the willingness of one prophet to obey God. This truth should force us to stop and think: “What doors is God trying to open in our lives, or even in the lives of others around us that require our obedience?”

Sometimes God’s miracles are ready to flow, but He is waiting for our participation—our willingness to act in faith—to make them happen.

Scripture reminds us of the importance of obedience in God’s plans;

1 Samuel 15:22 – “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

James 2:17 – “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Deuteronomy 28:1–2 – “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.”

God wants to work miracles in our lives, but He always works “through” our obedience. The question is, are we willing to act in faith, even when it feels uncomfortable or uncertain, trusting that God’s plan is far greater than our understanding? When we obey God, even in small, everyday ways, it opens door that without our obedience would remain closed, not only for us, but to also those God is calling us to bless!

Question: What is God asking you to do today? What doors is He ready to open that need your obedience to see His hand at work?

Have a great week and we’ll see you Sunday!!

Pastor Dan