THE BLESSEDNESS OF OBEYING GOD'S WORD.
Everything is said in the Scriptures that can be said to show us the need
of living in harmony with the Bible. If our lives are out of harmony with
one text in that blessed book, we are not yet fitted for heaven. We can
never be admitted into the everlasting kingdom of God if we knowingly
refuse or neglect to live to every word of God. We are therefore exhorted,
beseeched, entreated, encouraged, warned, and commanded to obey every
ext
in the Bible. We are encouraged to obedience by being told of the
blessedness of keeping the commandments.
It is natural for mothers to love to have their children well spoken of.
We do not fault them for this. When a young man, by his good deportment,
is gaining a fair name, mothers, when together, will remark, "It is
blessed to be the mother of a young man like that." There was a woman who
heard of the fame of a young man. He was casting out devils, healing the
sick, opening blinded eyes, and unstopping deaf ears, and consequently he
was gaining a wide and favorable reputation. This woman came to the young
man and with that mother in her heart said to him, "Blessed is the womb
that bear thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked." It was, indeed,
blessed to be the mother of this young man. An angel from heaven
acknowledged this. In speaking to Mary of the birth of Jesus (for he was
the young man), the angel said, "Hail, thou that are highly favored, the
Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." She was more highly
favored than any other woman on earth, because she was to become the
mother of the Son of God. Can it be that any one can be more blessed than
this happy mother of Jesus? Let us hear his reply to the woman--"But he
said, Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it."
Jesus did not deny that it was blessed to be his mother, but said that
those who hear God's word and keep it are rather, or more, blessed. God
favors those who obey him. "The willing and obedient shall eat the good of
the land." "Hadst thou hearkened unto my commandments, then wouldst thy
peace be like a river." Happiness is the result of obedience, and heaven
is the final reward.