July 17, 2026 -- Proverbs 13:13 -- Obedience blessed

/

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself;
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
Proverbs 13:13 ESV
 
How do people despise the word?

  • By ignoring it, and letting it sit on the shelf, unread

  • By reading it and deciding what part to obey and what part they won’t submit to.

  • By refusing to attend the preaching of the word

  • By refusing the godly advice of mature brothers

  • By wilfully sinning against the clear commands of the LORD.

The word itself has built into it consequences for disobedience. For example, a Christian woman who marries a man who is not a Christian will be dragged away from her faith. But more than this even, the word teaches “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked” (Galatians 6:7) all your sinful actions are like seeds which will sprout evil in your life. Any violation of the word of God will be planting self-destruction into your world.
 
The promise of God is that the one who fears God, and therefore obeys His commandments, will be rewarded. The fear of God

  • is greater than the fear of man.

  • is living in reverent obedience, no matter the earthly consequences,

  • is dearer to the man of God than all that the world purports to offer

  • is allowing the impact of the word of God to be worked out into every part of your life

  • is teaching the way of righteousness to the next generation

 
In Isaiah 11 the gift of the seven-fold Spirit, that is, the Holy Spirit, poured out into the life of the believer, is described this way:
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:2-3a ESV
What a glorious description of the man, of the woman, of the child, who walks with Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Knowing God is the greatest reward. Eschewing evil is the most basic part of obedience to God, but it will not be sustainable unless one understands the foundation of the Christian life. The LORD promises, I will be your God, and you will be My people—that is the greatest treasure of life. That is what prompts a Christian to revere (fear the LORD), obey, and even delight in the word of God. In submission to the word, at the end of all obedience is relationship with the Author of the word. Such sustained obedience to the One Who perfects true obedience results in godly living which is full joy and purpose.
 
Great Father, when You told Moses to lead Israel into the Promised Land, but that You would not go with them, Moses refused. He declared “If Your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here” (Exodus 33:15). Mighty God, if Moses knew enough to say in the wilderness with You, rather than go up to a beautiful land flowing with milk and honey if it meant Your Presence wouldn’t be there, then God of majesty and splendor, keep me in the place of hardship where You are, rather than allowing me to wander to places where Your Presence won’t be the rich blessing and the anchor of all of life. Teach me the path of obedience which is also the only way to fullness of life with You, fullness of the joy for which I was created, and extravagant hope for tomorrow wherein You are my all-in-all. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/FSHe-kibZDg?si=dDY4PWz09ohdBgXO Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord
 

Copyright © 2026 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.