Friends usually have something in common so that they attract each other. Whether it is sports, shopping, hobbies, games, hunting, church, etc., there will always be some common interest that draws them together.

The same is true with God. The verse today declares that God pays attention to those who seek to walk in righteousness. This means they put away known sin and seek to live lives that please God.

Unfortunately, many professing believers have little desire to live different than the world today. The believers who have had a tremendous impact on the world and in their churches are those who have put away the old way of life and fully embraced a new one.

In Amos 3:3, the prophet declared: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” God cannot bless those who walk contrary to His will – whether they are His children or not. God’s love for righteousness has never changed, which is why He warns the wicked, in I Corinthians 6:9: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?”

To the believer, He says: “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (I Corinthians 3:17). You cannot serve God and mammon.

Christian, make up your mind who you will serve. Walk with God or stop pretending to be one of God’s children. If you want His favor and blessing, get in His Book and walk accordingly, then He can be happy with you – and you will find it to be a life worth living.

The psalmist opens its most magnificent chapter of the Psalms with the primary precept found in it – that those who seek to obey God are blessed. Most likely, nearly all believers have discovered that God does bless when they begin their walk of living so as to please Him. The concept that obedience brings His blessing is important to remember to keep us going on for Him. It must be remembered because many Bible characters ofteny ran into opposition from the world when they decided to do things God’s way.

This would clearly include people such as Able who would not compromise on the sacrifice God really wanted, and Joseph, who was determined to remain pure. Hebrews 11 mentions other godly people who would not accept deliverance, even from terrible persecutions and death. They did it because they were willing rather to die pleasing God with their lives rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

This verse takes in a lot more than just the present circumstances. It also considers eternity. Though we may not always be blessed in the here and now, there is no doubt, says the Psalmist, that they are blessed, who walk in the law of the Lord – the Bible. God’s blessing does not always result in material blessings, but He does promise sufficient provisions, inner peace, joy, power over sin, fellowship with Him, and much more.

Every believer needs to determine to walk in light of His blessing. It is true even if it should only come in eternity.