Offer Cheerful Obedience Today! :)

1/7/2012

“You warned them in order to turn them back to Your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed Your commands. They sinned against Your ordinances, of which You said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on You, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. For many years You were patient with them. By Your Spirit You warned them through Your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so You gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. But in Your great mercy You did not put an end to them or abandon them, for You are a gracious and merciful God” (Nehemiah 9:29-31).

There are many reasons to offer cheerful obedience to God today. Here is one of them: God is not a harsh taskmaster. He is not a legalist. Yes, He insists that we obey Him and warns us of the consequences of rebellion. He has always been faithful to do that. But His goal is not to create rules for rules’ sake. God knows the Truth; He is the Truth. He knows Himself, and He understands the Principles that hold creation together. He knows how He created us. He knows what will fill our lives with Love and Light and Life, and He knows what will rob us and blind us and destroy us. God knows. And wrapped up and interwoven in His instructions are the truths that will free us to become everything He intended for us to become. His commands are an invitation to Life. Behind each teaching stands a kind-hearted God. Today, will His commands be received by a warm-hearted, grateful People? Let it be so! : ) —Dan Z

8:00 a.m.