Obedience of Love

August 26, 2015

Devotions:

God desires obedience out of a love relationship not from duty and trying to keep the law.

        “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” ‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Obedience is essential but it is not true obedience unless it is done willingly. In the new birth God has given us a new spirit that desires to obey.  Before the new birth we really did not have a choice, we were in bondage to sin.  By the new birth we have a choice to obey or not to obey.  As you walk with God you will find it much better to obey the leading of His Spirit than to disobey and go your own way and disobey.  The power to obey and obedience are a tremendous blessing. Obedience to the Lord is not a cruel bondage.  The Lord is not a heartless task master but a kind and compassionate Lord.  His desire is always for our good and benefit.  He is the only source of good in the universe so when we turn from Him even in the least we turn towards evil and the curse.  

        “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” ‭1 John‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

        “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” ‭Romans‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

          God's love and goodness then turns us to Him to walk in obedience to Him.  We then obey not out of fear of retribution but out of a deep love for Him.

        “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.”  ‭1 John‬ ‭4:16-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬