“Jesus
replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them,
and we will come to them and make our home with them.’” John 14:23
There
is a world of difference between believing and following. Scripture tells us in James 2:19 (GW1)
“You believe that there is one God. That’s fine! The demons also believe
that, and they tremble with fear.” Our belief is to be based on faith. That faith
needs to blossom into unwavering trust and that trust needs to give birth to
obedience. If you simply say you believe
in God what have you gained? In a word, nothing. A true conversion brings about a new creation
in you, a second birth. You are supposed
to be changed. Your old life is supposed to die. It’s a progressive thing that
will take the rest of your life.
If
you truly believe in faith that God is real and Christ paid the debt owed for
your sins through His death on the cross, then you should be compelled by the
spirit to obey His teachings. To not
obey means you have determined to live your own life. You are satisfied to say that you believe in
the Lord yet not allow Him to influence you in any way.
Striving
for things you cannot hold, like money, power and fame is an empty endeavor
that leads nowhere but to a dead end. All
things shall pass away from this
earth. God wishes to make a home in each
of us but He will not force Himself into a person’s life. He must be invited in. So if you say you love the Lord, obey the
standard He has laid out in all of scripture.
God loves you and if saved, is in
you by His Holy Spirit, but will never force His will on your life. He seeks
our voluntary allegiance. Until next time, walk with the King and be a
blessing!
1 GOD’S WORD
Translation; Baker Publishing Group; c. 1995.
