Ps 119:129-136 Pe
129 Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. 132 Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. 134 Redeem me from the oppression of men, that I may obey your precepts. 135 Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees. 136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.

The older I get and the more I study the Bible, the more I am convinced that the word of God is designed to be simple and understood. This is not to say that there are not some things in it that are difficult to comprehend and some that are impossible for our minds to grasp. To be sure, there are things that are discussed by theologians that will never be settled in the minds of many. How do we grasp the concept of God, of eternity, the glory of heaven or the horror of hell? We can’t, it is beyond us. We often talk and sing of the grace of God but can we really appreciate this grace from God’s perspective? No, I do not believe we can.

But when all is said and done, is not our correct response to simply trust God and trust his wisdom as shown in his Son? If we trust him, will we not humbly obey him and do his will? We can make all kinds of excuses for not doing what we know to be right. (I know, I have made many of them over the years.) We can say we believe in him and trust him and then go our own way and deceive ourselves into thinking we are actually serving him.
John tells us that if we really love God we will obey him. Jesus told his disciples that if they loved him they would do his will. He told them that he did the will of the Father because he was one with him and we must do the same if we are to be one with him. Obedience is the test of faith and cannot be ignored.

Obedience is the response of an honest heart that trusts in God. God has forgiven us and accepted us and therefore we respond by living for him and doing his will. We actually do put him first in our lives and allow him to tell us what to do or not do. He alone dictates what is important and our priorities. He is God, we are his!

O God, forgive me for all the things and the times I have ignored you, disobeyed you and put you behind other things in my life. Give me a greater faith to always trust you and strength to always serve you. Give me an honest heart so I don’t try to deceive you, myself or others because I know you see all things as they actually are. Fill me with your Spirit to make me a better person to my family, friends and those whom I meet. Use me in your will. I pray in the name of Jesus. Robert