The Cost of Obedience

Deuteronomy 1:25-27
They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, ‘It is a good land which the LORD our God is giving us.’
26 “Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; 27 and you complained in your tents, and said, ‘Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

How often have I identified God's blessing or His potential blessing in my life but refused to pay the price? Here Israel weighted what they thought would be the price of obedience against the promised blessing of God. There is always a cost. However the cost of obedience is never as high as the cost of disobedience, regardless of the promised blessing. This is not to say that obedience does not cost us. At times the cost will be very great. And yet God has the ability and desire to fight for us and carry us as we obey (vs. 1:30). So instead of asking if it's worth the cost to obey, I should ask if it's worth the cost to disobey - to miss the blessing of God and arouse the anger of my gracious God.

Father - may I never weigh the cost of obedience. Give me faith to know Your provision and follow Your promises. Grant me a willing and firm heart to pay the price of obedience always. Amen