On the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, when He knew that His hour had come to die, He described the blessed life to His disciples.

Actually, before He described the blessing, He gave a demonstration, by taking up a towel and washing the feet of His guys. It was an act of love. It was an act of humility. It was the way of obedience. And it was an example for them to follow.

I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you....If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:15, 17)

The #blessed life is not the life that can retell the story of Jesus before the Passover Feast. The #blessed life is not the life that can explain the theological parts of our need to be washed. The #blessed life is not even the life that recognizes a difference between being a servant and master, and that knows that Jesus is the Lord and Teacher. The #blessed life is the life of obedience.

The apostle James knew it too.

The one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:25)

But aren’t Jesus and James too focused on the externals? Shouldn’t they be more concerned about the heart? That’s just it, they are concerned about the heart. They are so concerned about it that they expect that what is in the heart will be visible in obedience.

Don’t be deceived, hearing about pride from the Word but then not considering what pride is in your life that must be mortified. The same goes for worldliness, sexual immorality, and anger. Get specific about your sins to confess, and get specific about your choices as saints. Blessed are you not just when you know, but when you do.

(For a chapter’s worth of blessing for obedience and cursing on disobedience read Deuteronomy 28.)