I wonder how many times I've professed myself a Christian, claiming Jesus is Lord, and turned around and done something completely against His character. I shutter at the thought.
In many different ways and at different times we are told in scripture that if we love the Lord we will obey Him. However, many of our lives fall short of even trying to obey Him. We know that we are all sinners, not a one of us good within ourselves, and that no matter how much effort we put in we will fall short of God's glory, but does that mean we shouldn't try?
Paul answers this resoundly in Romans: Let it not be!
If we love the Lord and trust Him, trust His word, trust who He says He is, we will obey Him.
We will draw close to Him and realize that in our own effort we fall short, but that in relying on Him, we obey Him.
Some commandments are pretty clear and are not a challenge for us. Others, are great challenges. Some we don't even know are important to God. Or, we don't want to recognize that they're important to Him.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27
Did you know that envy is listed along with murder as a sin? How about disobeying your parents? Being arrogant and boastful? Who hasn't fallen to these?
But, thanks be to God, He's provided us a rescue! However, we are to take hold of that rescue like a lifeline and stubbornly hold to Him and His promises.
We are all stubborn. At one time I obstinantly held onto my own way of doing things and frequently made a mess of things. Now, I stubbornly hold onto my God and let Him lead me through any mess that comes my way - of my doing or not.
Obedience is not always an easy course to choose, after all, it is the narrow way. But the rewards are so great that we could never count them. God's grace, mercy, peace, and joy are more than we could ever work for and grasp for ourselves in our own power. They are the blessings that count, and the ones that come with stubborn obedience to God's way rather than the world's way.
