It’s amazing how often we want to receive the benefits without the hard work necessary to achieve them.  When my family has traveled to a certain city for vacation, there is a shopping center we like to frequent.  And by we, I mean my wife.   There are two stores, man stores I call them, I tend to visit.  One is a hardware store and the other is a health supplement store.  Both contain items that can aid in building homes and healthier bodies.  Both stores have awesome supplements and tools I enjoy looking at and even collecting.  But nothing is built unless I work or workout using these items.  Some of the items in these stores offer more efficient means to produce the results everybody wants in a home or health. But, you cannot just purchase the items and expect them to perform magic.  It would be foolish to get mad at the power tools you just bought because they didn’t fly out of your toolbox and build the house.  How insane would it be to purchase workout equipment and dietary supplements, not use them, and then call up the store manager and complain about how bogus their stuff was!  Don’t skip leg (or any other workout) day!  Don’t just display the tools neatly on your work bench!  These items must actually be accompanied by doing and working, not just purchasing and collecting. 

Proverbs 3 reminds us of this very thing concerning our growth in the Lord.  There is great blessing and reward to be found from God, but not apart from obeying and practicing His truth.  Proverbs 3:1-12 reminds us we must obey God’s word and do His will.  It is only in doing Proverbs 3:1-12 that we can see the blessings Proverbs 3:13-35 describe.  We cannot expect the blessings of God if we are not willing to obey and apply the word of God!  God cannot bless sin, disobedience, rebellion, or anything else contrary to His word, will, and way.  There are no shortcuts!  Interestingly, the true rewards and blessings one finds are really the growth and sanctification in the Lord that comes along the way.  It is in the obeying and doing of God’s word, will, and way that we find what really is the blessing!  Being transformed daily to be more holy is the ultimate reward!  Proverbs 3:5-6 say, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  It is in submitting all our ways to Him that the path of blessing is finally found.  The path of a changed life in Christ is the blessing! Guys, don’t skip spiritual leg day!  You can’t be a man of God without spending time with God.  You can’t know His will without opening and reading His word. You’ll find the blessings of the Lord are the results of obeying His word and will. 

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stephenrharrison

Stephen and his wife Haley have called Arkansas home all of their lives. Stephen has served in several ministry roles over the last 25 years and as a lead pastor for the last 8 years. Stephen attended Williams Baptist College and earned a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University, an MA, MDiv, and DMin in Christian Leadership and Pastoral Ministries from Liberty University. When not pastoring, Stephen enjoys running, cycling, reading, writing, camping, fishing, and spending time with his family.