09/05/2024
It pays to be obedient; this was the motivation behind the devotional message I read this morning. As I digested this thought, I couldn't help but contemplate the negative view that our society has of authority and rules. Despite this negative view of some, and the impression that secular laws and rules are made to restrain us, God's commandments were instituted to make us prosperous and keep us healthy. Jesus reiterates the fact that God gives us commandments out of love, and that they are to be obeyed. In return He will provide for us and answers our prayers. In His commandments, God is helping us to live better lives and rewarding us for our efforts.
“If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
John 14:14-15 KJV
Interestingly, we push every civil law to its limits, if the speed limit is 70 mph on the interstate then we aren't satisfied until we are going an average of at least 75. If the law says that our taxes need to be submitted by April 15th then we wait in line at the post office to mail ours at the last possible minute... or for some, to file an extension. Our society, as a whole, approaches God's laws in the same manner. If Jesus says "love thy neighbor as thyself", we ask "who's our neighbor?"
“But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?”
Luke 10:29 KJV
If we consider tithes, we ask "does this mean 10% before, or after, it has been taxed?" Whatever the commandment or law, we push it to its limit, and perhaps a little further. If I sound like I am preaching from higher ground... I'm not. I set my cruise control at 75 just like most folks do, and I ask the same questions.
So why do we do this and what are the consequences? For the speeder, a wreck at 70 mph will mean that our body will exert a force of 14,000 pounds on our seat belts (or dashboard) whereas at 75 mph it will exert a force of 15,000 pounds. Either one will most likely kill us, but it might mean the difference between an open or closed casket. At a slower starting speed it could mean the difference between the EMT fixing you up or a trip to the trauma unit... You get the point.
But, with God's laws the consequences are quite different...
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 KJV
So on the one hand we can pay a ticket or a penalty, and on the other we sacrifice the kingdom of God. This wasn't hardly a fair comparison was it? Yet we tend to treat the two as if they were the same. Civil laws and God's laws are far from being equivalent.
What prompts us to push these boundaries? Well, that answer is complicated and would take volumes of books, but as an example it is such things as an aversion to authority, pride, selfishness, love for money, or just plain orneriness. This is a reflection of our fallen selves and our own self-centered view of our faith and the world. Even when God tells us that He will give us everything, to include everlasting life, if we will simply keep His commandments we push the limits; we flirt with failure or worse yet... ignore Him.
The amazing thing is that God forgives us over and over again... His love is that great; His desire that we succeed, is that overwhelmingly positive. Jesus made this point with Peter when they had this exchange...
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
Matthew 18:21-22 KJV
If we are expected to forgive to such a degree, how great must God's forgiveness be? How wonderful is His mercy and grace!
This morning I pray that we stop being ornery towards God’s commands and commandments, and begin being obedient to them out of love for Him, just as His commandments indicate that He loves us. I pray that when we do fail in some way that we will immediately kneel before Him in contrition and seek His forgiveness. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us and strengthens us this very day and will lift us above our humanness, and stubborn obstinance, to a place where our obedience to God's law is no longer a burden, but the joy of our soul.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your commands and commandments that are meant to guide us in our lives, and to direct us in our relationship with you. Thank you for the way that they tame our sinful nature, and lead us to righteousness, while transforming our lives from worldly chaos and self-centeredness into peacefulness and calm. Open our eyes Father to the fact that you do not give us laws and rules to take away our freedoms, and self-determination, but to give us lives that are exciting, free in their righteousness, and filled with joy. Show us Lord that in you we are not slaves, but your beloved children instead. Take our ornery nature Lord and redirect it so that we will not look to ourselves and the world for a thrilling life, but to you for the great adventures we seek and our excitement in living. Your Son Jesus attended weddings, turned water to wine, healed the sick, and raised the dead, then he told us that we would do greater things than these… how is it then that we can find obeying you to be limiting, and the world so much more exciting? Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who asks us to love and obey you so that we too will be holy, even as your Son Jesus who shows us the thrill in living for you is holy. Holy are you who does not limit us to the time we walk upon this world, but opens to us the unlimited expanse of heaven itself, and means for us to live there for all eternity. Praised be your name Father for all that you have created on earth, and for all that awaits us in heaven, and that is yet to come. You are merciful Lord, even in your commandments and will, and your grace has been flowing from you always; for you are alpha and omega. Your goodness does not limit us, but provides us with the fullness of life, and the greatest joys and excitements that it has to offer. We climb no mountains taller than yours, and fathom no depths deeper than you. There is no beauty in this world that you did not create, and none in heaven that is less. In you we too are unbound by death, and made righteous and holy forevermore. Help us here to obey you as we should, to be washed clean by the blood of Christ, and to hold firm to our belief and faith so that we will be found worthy of living forevermore in you, and in the fullness of life that this encompasses.
We cry out Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah to you!! And say… Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God, who was, and is, and is to come, and in whom is all life… abundant, exciting, and eternal.
“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
John 8:34-36 ESV
““Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.””
John 14:12-17 ESV
“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Ephesians 3:19 NLT
Rich Forbes