I was recently diagnosed with rosacea, which is a reddening of the face. It doesn’t hurt at all and has no effect on my daily life. I am mostly aware of it because people see my face and will comment on it. So when the doctor prescribed antibiotic treatment, I was faced with a choice: would I do something? Or just leave it alone?
My wife and I were on a walk this morning and a common theme kept coming up into our conversation: you have to put in the hard work to get the good results. If I want my face to improve, I have to put in the time to follow the antibiotic treatment. If you want to be physically healthy, you have to put in the time and work. If you want to be financially healthy, you can’t take a short cut by gambling; or by playing the lottery.
Psalm 119 starts with two verses of blessing: “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.”
Psalm 119:1-2
Blessed. That sounds very nice. I like the thought of being blessed. But the specific word here for blessing is not a gift from God alone. Instead, the word blessed here means that you must do something. Sometimes, a blessing is a gift from God and His grace; you did nothing to earn it. Much like being saved from sin. But other times a blessing is a result of you working in partnership with God. So here. To be blessed means you have worked on your spiritual life. You are obeying God’s Word. You are walking in His Word. You are seeking Him with all your heart. You are putting in the work, and you are reaping the benefit; you are blessed.
I find that many people want the benefits without the work. And that is a very common temptation. But that’s not how God created His world to work. He wants you to work. He created you to work. And the best work that you can do is spiritual work, or working on your relationship with God. When you put in the time to read His Word, when you put in the time to seek Him in prayer, when you put in the sacrifices to obey His commands, you are blessed! May you have a very blessed day indeed!