Obedience: A Choice of the Spirit and Heart

Our Lord, you bless everyone who lives right and obeys your Law.
You bless all of those who follow your commands from deep in their hearts
and who never do wrong or turn from you.
You have ordered us always to obey your teachings;
I don’t ever want to stray from your laws. – Psalm 119: 1-5 (CEV)

I’ve been reading and re-reading Psalm 119 the last few days. It talks about God’s laws, His precepts, decrees and statutes. There are a lot of those in the Bible. I don’t even know all of them. Some of them that I know, I do not obey because they are time conditional. I did not stone my rebellious teenagers (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). And so I continue to study and consider God’s Word and what it says to me. I seek His Truth through His Holy Spirit. I desire His correction and discipline. And Abba Father is a good Father and faithfully meets with me.

And then there is my personal mentor and example, Jesus the Christ. I continue to study how He spoke and interacted with adulterers, fornicators, thieves, prostitutes, gossipers, liars, manipulators and church leaders. Jesus had the knowledge, the insight to know the heart and spirit of Peter, Mary, Judas, the Pharisees, and various “sinners” brought to Him for judgment. (The Pharisees want to “catch” Him in a “wrong” judgment.) But Jesus taught as though He knew that we did not have that knowledge. We needed to follow His example of forgiveness, unconditional love. Paul spoke of this grace in almost every letter he wrote to the churches. He, too, knew that we would need to use grace and mercy, not judgment.

God’s Word is a lamp that lights the way of my steps as I journey through this life. But the will shine brighter when I (1) spend time every day, personal time, with my LORD and His Word and (2) spend time routinely with others in studying God’s Word. “Iron sharpens iron,” (Proverbs 27:17) my friends. We learn from each other, and if I don’t agree with everyone in the group, WONDERFUL! I will study more and consider why I believe and what I believe and read more in cross reference! And that brings more obedience.

As I put my mind and heart more on what is on God’s heart, I will find myself spending more time in things of God, Kingdom mindedness! I become obedient to thinking on the things of God. I see more clearly how God works. I align my mind with the mind of God. He is my Abba, my Father.

Lord, accept my offering of praise,
and teach me your regulations.
My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
The wicked have set their traps for me,
but I will not turn from your commandments.
Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart’s delight.
I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end. – Psalm 119: 109-112 (NLT)