If You Love Me . . .

It is so easy to say, “Lord, I love you.” But how many of us prove our love for Him. Jesus tells us in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (NASB) When most of us imagine acts of love, obedience is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But there it is. If you love Me . . . you will obey.

“But Lord I would rather . . .”  Obey Me.  “But wouldn’t it be better to do it this way?”  Obey Me.  “Lord, You couldn’t really mean for me to do that?”  Obey Me.  Throughout God’s Word, we are given promises that obedience will bring blessings. Why do we stubbornly refuse to obey and forfeit the blessings God wants to bestow upon us? We are like the children of Israel who, over and over again, lived for a while in obedience which brought blessings, only to turn away from God in disobedience and worshipping idols which brought destruction. We are witnessing the same thing happening in our nation today. Though we were founded as a Christian nation, we have come to a time when the majority of Americans have no regard for God and worship every kind of “idol” imaginable, an idol being anything or anyone that we hold in a higher place in our hearts than God.

Psalm 33:12 tells us, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” We have been the most blessed nation on earth for some time; but now that America, for the most part, has turned away from God, we are seeing the destroying hand of the enemy moving across our nation.

I believe if America could hear God’s heart today, He would be saying, Turn back to Me. Love Me. Obey Me. And I will restore you, just as I did the children of Israel so many times.

We as God’s children need to act first. Even those of us who say we love Him many times fail to obey Him. We have lost our first love and need to repent and do our first works over. (Revelation 2:4-5) If the fire of love for God would be rekindled on the altars of our hearts, what a difference we could make in this world. A passionate love for God would change our actions. Instead of living in our self-indulgent lifestyles, we would obey. Our first priority would be to reach out to those who need to know the Lord, rather than making sure all of our own desires are met.

Father, before it is too late, help us to turn away from worthless pursuits. Draw us unto Yourself. Teach us to love You. Teach us to obey.

Sitting at the Feet of Jesus

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42, NKJV)

In the scripture above, Martha was distracted by the important, while failing to see what was most important.

Mary, on the other hand, was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word (v. 39, NASB). Some of us have a hard time being still before the Lord, always feeling the need to do something. I can see Mary sitting at His feet, adoring Him, and listening to His words—her devotion to Him evident on her face.

It is so sad that many Christians are like Martha. The Lord is present with them, because He has taken up abode in their hearts. However, their lives are so filled with distractions that they do not enjoy the presence of the Lord. We live in a time when there is so much available to do, so many opportunities that did not exist is earlier generations. Quiet times spent at home seem to be a thing of the past.

There are many important and worthwhile activities in which we can become involved. However, there are also unnecessary activities that, if we allow it, will cause us to drift from our close relationship with the Lord. It is important for each of us to take inventory and ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and lives. If He reveals to us that time we are spending on things we want to do would be better spent at the feet of Jesus, then we need to change our priorities. I have heard the expression that good is the enemy of best. Just because an activity is good and not sinful does not necessarily mean a child of God should be doing it. We must be sensitive to the Spirit as He guides us.

I have been invited many times by some of my Christian friends to join their Book Club. While I love to read and it would not be sinful to join, and I have many times wanted to do so, I have felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to not join. I have been unable to put into words the reason why until now. I now know that the Lord wanted me to spend time with Him so that I could discover His new direction for my life. Time reading enjoyable books would not be sinful, but because of what the Lord wanted to show me, it would have been time wasted. I am glad my friends participate in something they enjoy so much, and hope they understand that I have to do what the Holy Spirit is leading me to do.

Have you allowed your life to become so full of activities that you cannot enjoy the relationship you have with your loving Savior and Lord? If so, kneel at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to help you change your priorities. Your reward for time spent with Him will be the deep and abiding relationship with our Lord that we each long for.

The Test

 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." (Genesis 22:1-2-NASB)

Can you imagine being asked to give up your child in this way? And Isaac wasn’t just the child of Abraham and Sarah born under normal circumstances. He was the son of promise born in their old age. He was the one it seemed would never come—the promise it was hard to believe would ever be fulfilled. Isaac was born twenty-five years after God first promised him. And now God wants Abraham to take him to the top of a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice.

Why would God give such a command? Today, as we read this story from our vantage point, we can see that it foreshadows the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. In the Old Testament account, when Abraham is about to slay his son, at the last moment the angel of the Lord calls out to him and instructs him to not take his life. He then provides a ram for the sacrifice. The ram was the substitute for Isaac. In the same way, Jesus—God’s only begotten Son became our substitute when He died on the cross. We don’t have to be punished for our sins, because He took the punishment for us.

But the Word of God reveals another reason for God’s command. Look at verses 11 and 12: But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."

God wanted Abraham to fear Him—to have a reverential awe of Him, to realize that no one, not even the son of promise, was more important than his relationship with God. The fulfillment of the promise must not take priority over the One Who made the promise.

This speaks volumes to me. When God blesses us and fulfills promises He has made to us, we must never allow the fulfillment of the promises to take precedence in our lives. When we place importance on anything or anyone above God, that thing or person has become a god in our lives. And the Lord has instructed us, Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:3)

God is the One who deserves our devotion. He is far above all gods. (Psalm 97:9) He is our Source, the One who provides everything we need. He pours out His love upon us. And we still turn away from Him. I pray that we become like Abraham, willing to give up anything God asks to keep our relationship with Him.

Stepping Out

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (I Cor. 12:18)

Isn’t it amazing that we imperfect, finite human beings are in the habit of telling the awesome and all-knowing God of the universe that we know more than He does. Oh, we don’t necessarily say it in words, but by our actions, we declare that we know more about who we are and the life we are supposed to live than He does. How arrogant we are!

Each of us was created with a specific destiny, and we have God-given gifts to help us accomplish His purposes. However, many of us spend years trying to fit ourselves into molds that were not made for us.

One of my brothers is a very talented musician who is using his gifts for the Lord. There have been times that I have earnestly questioned God about why He gave him that ability instead of me. After all, didn’t the Lord know I would be a pastor’s wife and that my having musical ability would benefit my husband and the church? But God has shown me that He has a different plan for my life, and it has taken me a long time to surrender to His will.

When you come to the place of full surrender to God’s will, rather than frantically trying to work out your own plan, you gain a sense of purpose that you did not have before. Even in the midst of questions regarding the details of what lies ahead, there is a calmness that holds you steady as you step out into the unknown.

After our God calls us, He does not leave us alone. He equips us to do what we have been called to do. Thank God for His Spirit who indwells us! As we live for and trust Him, God’s Spirit continually stays with us and guides us, and we never need to fear the future.

Father, thank You for Your indwelling Spirit who guides us and empowers us to live our lives according to Your plan. Help us each day to submit to Your will in all things.