A cardinal emphasis in our walk with God is obedience. As we have learned in recent meditations, it was Saul’s disobedience that led to the eventual withdrawal of the Holy Spirit from him. He became a shell of his former self and died miserably thereafter. To walk in obedience to God is to retain the Holy Spirit and His manifold ministries. Moreover, obedience determines if and when we obtain blessings or miracles from the Lord. The blessing bestowed on Abraham, qualifying his seed to become a blessing to all families of the earth was on account of his obedience. The entire benediction in Deuteronomy 28 is contingent on obedience. In both testaments, many blessings are directly related to obeying the Lord.
Walking in obedience with God does not only affect you directly, but it can also affect other people in the community of saints. The Lord met Saul of Tarsus on the way to Damascus where he was going to persecute the saints. In that noonday blistering encounter, he temporarily lost his vision. His restoration would not come until he had entered the city for further instruction. Meanwhile, God had told another disciple, Ananias, to go and minister to Saul. Initially, this disciple was jittery, having heard so many terrible stories about Saul. God had to bring assurances his way not to be afraid. That was when he went and prayed for Saul to receive his sight and be baptized in water. Imagine if Ananias did not obey the Lord as soon as possible! Saul would have groped in darkness a little longer than God had intended. When you fail to obey the Lord fully and on time, the lifeline that God wants to give to others through you may be delayed.