Joy Through Obedience, Part II
Thursday, August 8
Joy Through Obedience, Part II
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11
Obeying because we love is a mature faith. As a child, we first obeyed because we feared punishment. Then we get older, the age of innocence is over, and free will becomes a part of life. Then we discover that in order to experience joy however, we have to let go of childish reasons for obeying God’s commands.
Adult obedience is this: We love God so much that we want to follow Jesus in every way and in every circumstance, because we know that he loves us and that his commands are always based on love (even when we don’t understand how so), and we know that we can trust him. When we come to this realization, we begin to see how foolish it is to disobey.
Prayer for today: Father God, thank You for continued patience for us Your children. We need Your grace and Spirit to empower us to obey. Please give us a hunger for Your Word so that our mind can be renewed to be able to say no to the world and the flesh and yes to You. Thank You for finishing the work You have begun in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.