Saturday, March 08, 2014

Obedience or Lack Thereof

Yup. Obedience.

You know something? I am not always the best at plain ol' obedience. But I totally believe there is fundamental significance to obedience and the lack thereof.

Consequence? Absolutely.

Does this issue or the ignorance regarding it alter His love for me? No. Remember? He died for us while we were yet sinners. Surely He loves us now that we are washed and redeemed. And about that dying He did for us. That is supreme love, according to the scripture.

That is love.

Wishy-washy, willy-nilly, "do-as-you-please-and-I-will-still-smile-and-be-happy-with-you" is not.

Love disciplines. Love corrects. Love doesn't find delight in evil.

I myself am not able to boast of great success in absolute obedience. I reckon I never will. I am happily, gladly, and boastfully forever indebted to Him for mercy, forgiveness, and His faithfulness to me in spite of my foolishness.

But I am a champion for the cause of obedience. Because He is.

And by the way, this is not an exclusively Old Testament concept. It is not legalism. It is not living under the law.

It is freedom. It is health. It is pleasing to Him. It is loving Him. And honoring Him. It is just plain good.

So yeah. I recommend obedience. And regular repentance, too. The true "turn-around 180 degrees" kind of repentance. Then that same kind of repentance when you fail again just ten minutes later. The kind of repentance that cries out to God saying, "I'm unable. Please help me. I want to do this for You. I love You more than life itself. And I just.can't.quite.do.it -- yet. I need You."

But don't drink the "I can live however I want to and He will still be smiling" Kool-Aid. Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians that filled them with sorrow. Was he sad about that? No, because their sorrow led them to repentance. "For you became sorrowful, as God intended..." 2 Cor. 7.9 (NIV, emphasis mine)

We should be sorrowful when we fail to obey perfectly because what is needed is repentance born from sorrow, sorrow in disappointing the One we love.

Ask Him. Seek Him. He will meet you, help you, and empower you. It may take time. It may take a life time. In fact it may become your opportunity to boast in His mercy and unending forgiveness for years to come.

Obedience is beautiful. It is meet and right that we encourage and exhort one another in it. After all, we love Him, the only Holy God.

Our merciful, faithful, grace-giving and awesomely Holy God.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

rolex watches for sale
salvatore ferragamo outlet
p90x workout
coach outlet online
uggs outlet
michael kors outlet
canada goose jackets
ugg boots sale
nike air max 95
prada outlet
nike shoes
uggs on sale
uggs sale
miu miu bag
tory burch outlet
uggs clearance
longchamp outlet
michael kors uk
genuine ugg boots
furla handbags
kate spade outlet
longchamp handbags
chi flat iron
moncler outlet
moncler outlet
louboutin shoes
louis vuitton outlet
michael kors outlet
womens ugg boots
tory burch shoes

1:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ugg boots outlet
ugg boots sale
kd shoes
air max pas cher
nike shox
the north face outlet
ugg boots for women
discount ugg boots
ugg sale
discount uggs
cheap uggs uk
christian louboutin sale
ugg boots sale
ugg boots sale
tory burch black friday
ugg sale
ugg boots clearance
discount uggs
uggs sale
ugg australia sale uk
ugg sale
kate spade
cheap kevin durant shoes
ugg boots on sale
nike outlet
uggs outlet online
dansko shoes
ugg boots for cheap
ugg uk
discount uggs
uggs on sale uk
nike kd 6
uggs for cheap
pandora uk
oakleys sunglasses
discount uggs
ugg boots sale uk

3:35 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

nike running shoes
kate spade handbags
hermes outlet
minnesota vikings jerseys
patriots jerseys
barcelona soccer jersey
prada outlet
lebron james jersey
carmelo anthony jersey
north face outlet store
nike soccer shoes
new york jets jerseys
mulberry,mulberry handbags,mulberry outlet,mulberry bags,mulberry uk
ugg uk
larry fitzgerald jerseys,kevin kolb jerseys,patrick peterson jersey,andre ellington jersey,larry fitzgerald jersey,calais campbell jersey,deone bucannon jersey,andre ellington elite jersey,darnell dockett jersey,michael floyd jersey,sam acho jersey
derrick rose jersey
canada goose outlet
mizuno shoes
soccer jerseys
vans shoes
los angeles clippers jerseys
nike air max
the north face outlet
blackhawks jersey
celtics jersey
juicy couture outlet
warriors jerseys
gucci outlet
saints jerseys
mizuno running
yongri0706

9:31 PM  
Blogger Autism Friendship said...

When the purpose was given to make you glad at every point then the procedure will during the same and you will experience that. The Bangalore Escort services we created are so enjoyment that you will take pleasure in it in a reassure zone and the whole time gives you so many wonderful moments and with the beautiful Escorts Bangalore beside, her friendly actions, awesome good looks thrills you so you will live the enjoyment rather than enjoying it
If you want to learn more about Autism Friendship, you can visit now

7:09 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home