Category Archives: Devotional

“I don’t want to obey!”

 

I’m a Great Aunt, (pronounced “ont”). When my grand nephew was 2 years old he announced to his mother, “I don’t want to obey!” I love his immature honesty. I don’t want to obey either but I’d never say it outright. I’m passive aggresive in my disobedience. When God reveals an area of my life that needs a change I really test Him. Is that really what you want me to do?  Like, right now? How about next week? Can we go slowly in that direction? Sometimes I can ignore Him completely.

There are times when obedience does come more easily. What sweet times those are. I want to be a more trusting child and say yes quicker to whatever God wants from me. I want to be in His word more so that I know what he requires of me in this relationship with Him.

Deut. 30:11-14-16; (ESV)

“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.”

I’m remembering the song we used to sing in Sunday School, Trust and Obey. Simple but true.

Trust and Obey

(text: John H. Sammis, 1846-1919)

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word
what a glory he sheds on our way
while we do his good will
he abides with us still
and with all who will trust and obey

(refrain)

Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey.

vs. 4

Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.”

The Bride

 

From “Seeking Him Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival” by Nancy Leigh
DeMoss & Tim Grissom with Life Action Ministries, pg. 106/107;

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify
her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he
might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Eph.5:25-27

“Sadly many Christians today live as if they’ve forgotten about the wedding.
In one sense, revival could be defined as “the Bride getting ready for the
wedding”! It is the church (which includes every true believer) preparing to
meet her Bridegroom by becoming holy – cleansed of all that defiles.” If
this is the intent of our Savior for His bride should it not also be the
life long focus and motivation of every child of God.”

I don’t know about you but I (ELLEN) don’t think I’ve every considered my
life in the context of getting ready for the ultimate wedding. Yikes that
really struck me. Thank goodness I’ll have a white dress/robe because of
what Jesus did for me regardless of my failures. But I do want to be
motivated to be active in leaving behind whatever keeps me from being holy.
I like the part of the passage that talks about being without spot or
wrinkle or any such thing. The older I get and the more wrinkled and spotted
I become the more I appreciate that thought! 🙂 I know it’s deeper than that
but just let me fantasize a little!

Along these same thoughts and thnking about holiness I need to remember that
God is my standard and not other people. How do I measure up to what God
wants me to be?

Eph. 5:1-2; “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in
love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God.”