I am often asked...
“Why doesn’t God answer my prayer?”
“What does God want me to do with my life?”
“Why won’t God give me clarity?”
“When are things going to get easier?”
“Why don’t I get the same blessings as my friends?”
My answer is always the same. It’s one little word that, when lived out, changes things. God blesses us... our lives move forward... we gain lucidity... and our life’s purpose and direction come into focus. Nine letters that are easy to say but challenging to commit to. That word:
obedience.
John Newton, the writer of the most popular hymn in history, "Amazing Grace" said:
"… if two angels in heaven were given assignments by God at the same time, one of them to go and rule over the greatest nation on earth and the other to go sweep the streets of the dirtiest village, each angel would be completely indifferent as to which one got which assignment.
It simply wouldn’t matter to them. Why? Because the real joy lies in being obedient to God. For a Christ follower, the important thing isn’t what God has us doing; the important thing is that we’re doing what God wants us to do."
(Lee Strobel, God’s Outrageous Claims, 93)
Regardless of our profession, income, or social status...God wants us to live our lives in a particular way. When we do, He blesses us. When we don’t, we struggle. It’s not God being mean... it’s us missing the mark. It’s not because we don’t know what He wants from our lives... it’s because we decide daily to simply not do them. So what does obedience look like? What does it take to please God. There are several ways... but we’ll start with the most important two...
Love Him
“‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” Matthew 22:36-40
Jesus said that the first step of obedience is loving God. Always putting Him first. It means maintaining a growing and thriving relationship with the One who created us. This includes putting His agenda above our own... consulting Him and allowing Him to guide decisions... reading scripture and actually living out the words therein. Loving God means affection for Him... expressing our genuine love with our whole heart. We must be loyal to Him... protect His name and speak it often... spend time with Him... listen for His voice... talk to Him... honor Him... brag about Him... and so much more. Obedience begins a commitment (or re-commitment) to love God first and above all others. If He isn’t our first and most important influence... we have someone (or something) in the wrong place.
Take a few minutes today in prayer and tell God how much you love Him... write it in your journal... tell a close friend... and never forget that as much as you love Him...
He loves you more. And He always will.
Join me tomorrow and we’ll look at the second way we can please God...
