1-29-2013
I’ve been listening to “Yes” by Shekinah Glory. I had an email from Amazon saying some songs had been added to my MP3 library because I purchased the CD. That is what reminded me about this song. So I put the intro, album version and reprise on repeat. As I listened during my morning devotion it was the perfect backdrop for the Word of God. Today I studied how Esther obeyed Mordecai and how even though God wasn’t mentioned He was in control and led Mordecai on how to instruct Esther and she obeyed.
Why is it we find it hard to obey God? Why is it that we don’t seek wise counsel? Why do we not heed to sound advice?
Even though there were a lot of scriptures especially in Proverbs about wise counsel and obedience.
1 Samuel 15:22 is what really stuck out to me.
22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (KJV)
1 Samuel 15:22
New Life Version (NLV)
22 Samuel said, “Is the Lord pleased as much with burnt gifts as He is when He is obeyed? See, it is better to obey than to give gifts. It is better to listen than to give the fat of rams.
So basically why fast, pray, and try to keep the commandments if you are not going to trust Him.
Jesus addressed it several times in the New testament that if you don’t keep his commandments or do His will that we do not love Him.
John 14:21
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
John 15:10
New King James Version (NKJV)
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
1 John 5:2-4
New King James Version (NKJV)
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our[a] faith
So as I was meditating on obeying and loving God. I began to think on Hosea and how he married the harlot and no matter what she did or who she whored around with Hosea would always go look for her or find her bring her home. He would still take care of her despite of herself. In spite of all she had done. Now if you are like me and hear lessons and sermons on this we know that is parallel to the children of Israel’s relationship with God. They would worship idols and do all matter of things and God would always deliver them. He would always take them back. He would always love them in spite of themselves.
Well today after studying about the correlation of obedience and loving God. I began to feel the heart of God. When you have been single most of your adult life it makes you feel some kind of way about the whole matter. You hear people say how beautiful you are or how great and wonderful you are but their actions rarely reflect their words.
If I was that great and wonderful why you don’t seek to spend time with me? Why is it you can see past my exterior? Why is it you don’t know my heart? Why is it you don’t know what I desire? Why is it you don’t of your free will want to give me you? Or give me what would make me happy? Why is it you don’t know the simple things that make me smile?
Have you ever been in a relationship that seemed one-sided? You give and give but never receive.
That’s how God feels. Service after service we lift our voices and hands and sing beautiful songs to the God of our salvation. We testify that He is good! There is none like Him! He is Wonderful! He is Great and greatly to be praised! He is faithful!!
Do we really believe that God is all that or is it really lip service? If you know that He is faithful, if you know He has your best interest at heart, why not obey him? Why not keep His commandments. Why not trust Him.
If we really believe God is in control and see’s the end from the beginning why don’t we spend more time with Him? Why do we find it hard or even strange when people spend hours in bible study or prayer or just meditating on the Lord?
We break God’s heart on a daily basis. He longs to hear from us. He longs to spend time with us. He wants us to come to Him sometimes not asking for anything.
So I’m making it my mission to learn more about what pleases God and be about doing that starting with obeying Him.
Be blessed and be a blessing.
