Sunday

Is that a parents dream or what, to have a child who does exactly what he or she is told to do? Try to imagine what a day in your home would be like. If you don’t have children, think back to when you were a child.

Can you imagine what it would like it if in every home throughout America children obeyed their parents as Jesus obeyed His Father?

Can you a picture a morning when you say to your children, “It is time to get up.” AND you only have to say it once. A morning when your children wash up, brush their teeth, get dressed and come down to breakfast, without having to tell them, “It is getting late.” “Hurry up you or going to miss the bus.” “Shut the TV off and come in for breakfast know!” “Did you feed the dog like I told you?”

Can you envision eating a meal without having to remind your children of their manners, without having to say, “Don’t talk with your mouth full.” “Elbows off the table.” “Don’t interrupt your father.” “Stop hitting your sister.” “I am sorry if you don’t like it, that is what we are having for dinner.”

Just think, if you could or could have said as Jesus said,

“I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”

Morning and mealtime could be or could have been a place of peace instead of a war zone.

What enabled Jesus to not only say but also actually do what His Father had commanded him to do? What caused Paul to go to Macedonia to preach the gospel? What caused the woman merchant who dealt in purple cloth to be baptized?

The answer is plain and simple, love, more precisely, obedient love. Obedience is a sign of love. Jesus said,

“If anyone loves me,
he will obey my teaching.”

Do you obey God? The Bible says,

“Honor your father and your mother.”

Do you obey God with regards to your relationship with your parents?

“Do not let any unwholesome
talk come out of your mouth.”

Do you obey God with your mouth?

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse (house of the Lord).”

Do you obey God with the use of your talents, your time, and your treasure?

“Whatever you do to the least of
these people, you do it to me.”

Do you obey God in the way you treat others?

Today, people are reluctant to obey God. Once the Bible was embraced as the inspired authoritative Word of God. Now, we may believe that, but we don’t act it. It’s like if we obey the Word of God we will lose our freedom. We lose our ability to be in control. We lose our free will. Obeying carries with it this notion of submission as opposed to love. I can’t remember the last time I had a wedding couple select Ephesians 5:22-31 which reads,

“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord…. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

Obedience is one of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith. Obedience is freedom when our obedience is to the will of God. The peace of God moves into our hearts and lives with obedience. Without obedience to God, you are allowing a war to be waged inside of you. You are constantly fighting God, which results in sin, fear, worry, doubt, and uncertainty.

Can you remember a time in your life when your attitude was that of the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 119.

“Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.”

When was it that you saw God’s statutes, God’s decrees, God’s acts, God’s laws as wonderful?

“The unfolding of Your
words gives light.”

How long has it been that you allowed the Word of God to shine light into your darkness, into your grief, your struggles, your problems and your worries?

“I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.”

Does that describe you? Are you longing and thirsting for God’s Word to bring refreshment into your life?

“Direct my footsteps according to
your Word; let no sin rule over me.”

Do you seek God’s direction in your life or God’s stamp of approval? Like Paul do you go only where God leads you? Do you ask God to show you the way to?

“Make your face to shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees.”

Do we desire the second half of this statement as much as the first half? Do you eagerly want to be taught by the Word of God? When was the last time you opened you Bible?

“Streams of tears flow from my
eyes, for your law is not obeyed.”

Have you ever cried because of the disobedience of humanity?

I don’t know how many times I said to my sons as they were growing up and giving me a hard time about doing something I asked them to do, “Don’t do what I have asked you to do because you feel you have to, but because you love me.”

Basically that is what Jesus is saying to you and me,

“If anyone loves me,
he will obey my teaching.”

God gave us His decrees, His statutes, His laws, His Son because He loved us. Jesus did exactly what God command because He loved His Father,

“I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”

There is some area in each one of our lives where we are not obeying God, where we are not doing exactly what our God wants. I invite you right now to admit that area of disobedience to God in silent prayer. To allow God’s Word to challenge you to make a commitment to change your disobedience to obedience because you love Him. Pray to God saying, “Father, God, I love you, you know as I do my disobedience, with the power of Your Holy Spirit and Your Holy Word help me to do exactly what You command.

Amen

Our Thanks to the

for the beautiful picture at the top of the page.
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