Every Good Gift: A 28-Day Advent DevotionalSample

Do you know what a love language is? A love language is the unique way that each of us most readily receive and recognize love. Knowing if your spouse needs a word of affirmation, if your child needs a hug or if your friend needs some time to connect is a way to bring them joy because you are speaking to them in their unique love language. 

This Advent season, as we look closer into the theme of joy, it is worth observing what brings joy to God. One thing that is unmissable throughout Scripture is that God’s love language is obedience and our obedience brings Him great joy. He delights in our obedience and rewards it with joy and increase. 

Repeated in His covenant with kings, nations and generations are promises such as “If you follow My statutes and carefully keep My commandments, I will give you rains in their season, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit.” (Leviticus 26:3)

David knew how to reach the heart of God. He delighted greatly in God’s commandments. He loved God so deeply and passionately that He wanted nothing more than to obey and acknowledge God in all his ways. “I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold.” (Psalm 119:127)

To truly love God, is to truly love His decrees. 

When we believe that His plans for us are always for our good then we will begin to love His commands. We will begin to live our lives solely by the doctrines in His Word and our words and actions will begin to echo the heart of God. The world around us will never have to ask if we are followers of Jesus because it’ll be clear and unmistakable. 

David understood this and was committed to living according to God’s laws. God found such great joy in David’s obedient heart that He lovingly referred to Him as a “man after His heart,” but also went further to establish an everlasting covenant with Him. 

“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'' (2 Samuel 7:16)

The fulfillment of God’s promises is hinged on our obedience and surrender. 

When Mary was visited by the angel who foretold the birth of Jesus, he said, “You will conceive a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of The Most High. The Lord will give Him the throne of His Father David.” (Luke 1: 31-32, emphasis added)

While Mary didn’t know much of what was to come, she yielded to God. “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)

Our world won’t always understand when we choose to follow Jesus and obey Him. Many times, even we won’t fully understand, but we can simply choose to trust and obey His Word. When we speak God’s love language of obedience, we bring Him joy. He promises and has proven through Scripture that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Our obedience is always rewarded with His joy, increase and even much more than we can ever think or imagine.  

Prayer: 

Father, help me to desire and hunger for Your Word above all things. Holy Spirit, help me to follow the commands of Jesus. Set my life apart as I follow You. Give me the kind of heart that thirsts after You and pursues Your presence no matter the cost. Amen.