Andrew Murray Devotionalናሙና

OBEDIENCE

God gave a command to Israel when He gave them the law: "Obey My voice...and I will be your God" (Jeremiah 11:4).. But Israel had no power to keep the law. So God gave them a new covenant, to enable His people to live a life of obed­ience. We read, “I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33); “I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me” (Jeremiah 32:40); “I will…cause you to walk in My statutes” (Ezekiel 36:27). These wonderful promises gave Israel the assurance that obedience would be their delight.

See what the Lord Jesus said about obedience: “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me” (John 14:21); “If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him” (verse 23); “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love” (John 15:10). These words are an inexhaustible treasure. Through faith we can firmly trust Christ to enable us to live such a life of love and obedience.

No father can train his children unless they are obedient. No teacher can teach a child who continues to disobey him. No general can lead his soldiers to victory without prompt obedience. Pray that God will imprint this lesson on your heart: the life of faith is a life of obedience. As Christ lived in obedience to the Father, so we, too, need obedience for a life in the love of God.

But so many people think, “I cannot be obedient; it is impossible.” Yes, impossible to you, but not to God. He has promised to “cause you to walk in [His] statutes” (Ezekiel 36:27). Pray and meditate on these words, and the Holy Spirit will enlighten your eyes, so that you will have power to do God’s will. Let your fellowship with the Father and with the Lord Jesus Christ have this as its one aim: a life of quiet, determined, unquestioning obedience.