Well, this election is finally over. Thankfully, it did not drag on, and we learned the winner when we woke up on Wednesday. Some are euphoric, while others are dismayed and left wondering how this could happen. As Christians, regardless of how you voted, we can be grateful and recognize that our ultimate joy comes from the Lord. This is because, no matter who is in charge or which party is in control, blessings and prosperity originate from Him. We may not always know how events will unfold for God's glory, but personal and church spiritual flourishing comes from the Lord.
I read this morning: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.” (Psalm 128:1)
There are other related passages with the same theme: “Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.” (Psalm 112:1-3)
“Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” (Proverbs 28:14)
The fear of the Lord brings joy and contentment in life. It embodies a reverence, awe, and deference to the Lord above all things. As we devote ourselves to Him, He blesses us, as Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
The fear of the Lord also fosters the prosperity of the church. In the Book of Acts, we see a summary of the growth and success of the early church: “The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” (Acts 9:31)
The key is to fear the Lord above all else. There is no blessing without a fear and reverence for the Lord and a desire to live in a way that pleases Him. You are blessed if you walk in His ways. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit and bearing the fruit of the Spirit—as we discussed on Sunday and in community groups—what good is it to identify as a Christian without experiencing the blessings that accompany it? Walk in His ways today, and God will bless you.
