"For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy." Psalm 78:37-42
Over and over the children of Israel claimed that they would follow God, but then they turned away from Him. The problem was that they followed God with words and not with their hearts, therefore their repentance was empty. Today, many Christians are doing the same thing. Well, may I say, "Talk Is Cheap" brothers and sisters. God wants our conduct to back up our spiritual claims and promises!
Any failure at perfect obedience can lead to regarding some laws as more important than others. All this can lead to a disregard of others who do not keep laws as well as we do. It can lead us to giving more attention to the little details and neglecting the major virtues God desires us to have. We become as ". . .blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel" (Matthew 23:24).
We should obey God because we love Him. We obey because He has done so much for us and we have done so little for Him. We obey because love is never content to accept but must always give. Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). We then come to realize that our disobedience not only breaks the laws of God, it also breaks the heart of God. How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! How often we are also rebelling against His Word and grieving Him today! Let's wake up Christians. Our days are few before Jesus returns for His church. Will you be hearing these words, "Well done my good and faithful servant?" (bold type mine). I tell you people, Seek to know God better, and you will find yourself obeying out of love. It will become richer, fuller, deeper, and will become sweeter and sweeter with each passing day. That's not my promise to you, it's God's.
May God bless you with a wonderful day as you strive for obedience in your life pleasing to God.
Be Mindful: What God sends is better than what we ask for ~ for he sent us Jesus!
Love in Christ Jesus,
Sandy |
