TODAY’S VERSE
“Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.”
Romans 16:7 (NLT)
TODAY’S THOUGHT
At first glance we skip right to the word obey. So often our emphasis is on obedience to God’s word. But wasn’t there a group that Jesus knew that had that same idea? The Pharisees knew what it was to obey the law. But Jesus was not impressed. Paul, who was a Pharisee himself, understood this. That is why he wrote, “Now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching.” It seems that he is saying, “Now you are really obeying God’s teaching.” But that is not what he meant. The emphasis is on wholeheartedly. They gave their whole heart to God. It was surrendering to God’s love and having this deep relationship with Him that led to following His commands. In his book, “Surrender To Love” David Benner writes, “By contrasting obedience and surrender I do not want to put too much distance between them. Those who surrender obey. But not all who obey surrender. – Christian obedience is more like what lovers give each other than what soldiers give their superiors. Lovers demonstrate their love by doing what each other wants. And so it should be with Christians and their God.” Today surrender to God’s love. Build a deep relationship with Him. When you do, you will find obedience to be a natural outflow of your love for Him.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your love. I want to surrender to this love. Help me know You, spend time with You and learn to completely trust You. Help me love You and then obey. AMEN
Copyright Ron Ovitt at devog.wordpress.com. Used with the author’s permission=
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