“Love for the Lord instantly obeys the Lord and beautifully reveals a loving God.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 16, 2022
I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this…I will surely bless you…because you have obeyed me. Genesis 22:16-18
Abraham revealed God as he obeyed God. His submission to the Lord placed the spotlight on the trustworthiness of God. Obedience is spurred on by 100% trustworthiness. Abraham’s obedience to offer his son as a living sacrifice on the Almighty’s altar of love called out the blessings of God for his bold obedience. Obedience enjoys God’s loving favor. Abraham, “the friend of God” had experienced the intimate love of the Lord, so…all fear was flushed out of his heart and filled with love. Love for the Lord instantly obeys the Lord and beautifully reveals a loving God.
An attractive way to reveal God through your life is to obey God. Your obedience may be as dramatic as giving up a child to trust the Lord 100% with what he has for him, or it may be as routine as investing time each day to sit at the feet of Jesus in prayer and with scripture to better know Him and grow more like Him. In an Abraham-like manner, grow your friendship with God and you will grow in your love and obedience…so your desire not to obey grows rare. God’s divine nature becomes more relatable to others as your life is an exhibition of faithful obedience.
“In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth” (Psalm 119:88).
Oswald Chambers describes how our obedience to God helps us better understand the nature of God and allows us to possess the promises of God, “The promises of God are of no value to us until, through obedience, we come to understand the nature of God. We may read some things in the Bible every day for a year and they may mean nothing to us. Then, because we have been obedient to God in some small detail, we suddenly see what God means and His nature is instantly opened up to us. ‘All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen…’ (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our ‘Yes’ must be born of obedience; when by obedience we ratify a promise of God by saying, ‘Amen,’ or, ‘So be it.’ That promise becomes ours.” Indeed, obedience reveals who God is and what He has for His children who love and obey Him.
Move forward in faith, love, and obedience to whatever the Lord is leading you to do. Do not qualify Christ’s commands with “ifs, ands, or buts,” rather be instantly obedient and in the process, you will point those who know you to the one who knows you best…who calls you friend…Jesus. A relationship, a health condition, a work issue, or any variety of brokenness you experience, offer on the altar of God’s love. Your obedience reveals the Lord’s trustworthiness, love, and blessings. All may not be well, but you can quietly say in your soul, “trust and obey.” Obey…and in the process…hope and pray the Lord will show you a better way…the best way.
“Lord, you are everything I need. I have promised to obey your words” (Psalm 119:57, NIRV).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me a heart to love, trust and obey, through Christ’s love, and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What area of obedience do you need to surrender 100% to the Lord?
Related Reading
Joshua 23:6; Zephaniah 3:1-3; John 14:23; Hebrews 11:8
Worship Resource
Don Moen: Trust and Obey
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