Just Do It

Happy Sunday!

1 Samuel 15:22-23 says, "Then Samuel said, "Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what God tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around God is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to God’s command, he says No to your kingship."(Message).   Ouch!   

King Saul thought he could do it his way instead of God's way.  How often have we been guilty of this or something similar?  God says, "Don't marry that one!"  Now years later we are still recovering from the physical, emotional, and financial trauma.  God says, "Don't give them a piece of your mind!"  Now, not only do they know how you feel, you also know that the feeling is mutual, and peace will not be easy to come by.   God says, "Get up and do it now!"   We wait and now other things have gotten in the way of the task that could have easily been completed.

Dr. Bill Winston, and Dr. Matthew Stevenson III both mentioned Obedience in their sermons today!   Obedience is the key.  The Apostle James encouraged the Believers to, "Do what God’s teaching says; don’t just listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves."(James 1:22, Easy-to-Read Version).  He described those people that only hear, and never do like this..."If some fail to do what God requires, it’s as if they forget the word as soon as they hear it. One minute they look in the mirror, and the next they forget who they are and what they look like."(vs 23-24, Voice).

There is Hope!   If we can simply obey great rewards are awaiting us.  James 1:25 says, "However, it is possible to open your eyes and take in the beautiful, perfect truth found in God’s law of liberty and live by it.  If you pursue that path and actually do what God has commanded, then you will avoid the many distractions that lead to an amnesia of all true things and you will be blessed."(Voice).   Matthew 6:22 says, "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."(Amplified).

Living in Obedience.  Love and prayers, Cynthia