Trust and Obey

 Happy Sunday!

"And remember, it is a message to OBEY, not just to listen to. So don’t fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn’t obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can’t see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God’s law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does."(James 1:22-25 Living Bible).

Like any good parent, God wants us to listen, and obey.  He only has our best interest at heart, and he knows that our enemy only wants to steal, kill, and destroy us.(John 10:10).  The Children of Israel wanted to be like other nations. They begged for a king.  God allowed them to have a king.  Their King Saul started out on the right path, but he later disobeyed God.  He thought his way of doing things was better, and more logical.  Proverbs 14:12-13 says, "There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell.  Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak."(Message).

After King Saul disobeyed God, the Prophet Samuel confronted him.  "Samuel replied, “Has the Lord as much pleasure in your burnt offerings and sacrifices as in your obedience? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. He is much more interested in your listening to him than in your offering the fat of rams to him."(1 Samuel 15:22 Living Bible).  Don't miss this!  Doing what God says is even more important than offerings.  Makes sense that the Apostle Paul would say, "I could give all that I have to feed the poor, I could surrender my body to be burned as a martyr, but if I do not live in love, I gain nothing by my selfless acts."(1 Corinthians 13:3 Voice).  Jesus said, "If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you."(John 14:15 Message).

The songwriter wrote, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey".

Love and prayers, Cynthia