Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: Psalm 85
Psalm 85:8 (NIV) "I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints-but let them not return to folly."
Thomas a Kampis, a fifteenth-century Dutch monk, wrote, "Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from grace."
How far are we from this in our Christian lives! I can recall several recent occurrences in my own life that have not been instances of "instant obedience," but instead that of "delayed obedience". In these times, I neglected God's will for a moment, forgetting that following Him was the best choice possible. Though I didn't consider it at the time, looking back in hindsight, I wish that I would have given the Spirit's wisdom in my heart more consideration.
When researching the Bible for different passages about obedience, I came across Psalm 85. This psalm talks about Israel's struggle to have "instant obedience" in the midst of its trouble and strife. The psalm starts by describing the trouble the nation suffers when they ignore God (85:1-7), and finishes by expressing confidence in His faithfulness (85:8-13). In verse 10, for instance, love and faithfulness "meet together," and righteousness and peace "kiss each other. The image is that of an intimate relationship between a couple--an appropriate comparison, I believe, because the qualities are so closely related by definition.
So what does this all mean to you? This psalm teaches us that if we want to know God's will in any type of situation, we must yield control of our lives to God and obey Him as He deals tenderly and graciously with us. Once we step out in faith to do this, we experience His attributes and appreciate Him more. We must remember that when we follow God, we experience spiritual blessings and benefits. However, it all starts with not looking to far into the future and trusting God with "instant obedience" on a daily basis by living for Him.
Ask the Lord to show you what areas of your life need more "instant obedience" and seek with all your heart to improve through the Spirit's power. Faith Lesson: Knowing the Lord's will takes daily and instant obedience.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
READ: Psalm 85
Psalm 85:8 (NIV) "I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints-but let them not return to folly."
Thomas a Kampis, a fifteenth-century Dutch monk, wrote, "Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from grace."
How far are we from this in our Christian lives! I can recall several recent occurrences in my own life that have not been instances of "instant obedience," but instead that of "delayed obedience". In these times, I neglected God's will for a moment, forgetting that following Him was the best choice possible. Though I didn't consider it at the time, looking back in hindsight, I wish that I would have given the Spirit's wisdom in my heart more consideration.
When researching the Bible for different passages about obedience, I came across Psalm 85. This psalm talks about Israel's struggle to have "instant obedience" in the midst of its trouble and strife. The psalm starts by describing the trouble the nation suffers when they ignore God (85:1-7), and finishes by expressing confidence in His faithfulness (85:8-13). In verse 10, for instance, love and faithfulness "meet together," and righteousness and peace "kiss each other. The image is that of an intimate relationship between a couple--an appropriate comparison, I believe, because the qualities are so closely related by definition.
So what does this all mean to you? This psalm teaches us that if we want to know God's will in any type of situation, we must yield control of our lives to God and obey Him as He deals tenderly and graciously with us. Once we step out in faith to do this, we experience His attributes and appreciate Him more. We must remember that when we follow God, we experience spiritual blessings and benefits. However, it all starts with not looking to far into the future and trusting God with "instant obedience" on a daily basis by living for Him.
Ask the Lord to show you what areas of your life need more "instant obedience" and seek with all your heart to improve through the Spirit's power. Faith Lesson: Knowing the Lord's will takes daily and instant obedience.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
