Time to Feel Good About How Well We Obey
Okay! None of us enjoy someone telling us what to do all the time. I’ve heard plenty of jokes about the hen-pecked man who cowers at his towering, overbearing wife. Seems he would rather “obey” her than deal with the consequences. But, really, most people don’t like being told what to do.
Especially as we grow up, rules seem less necessary and even a little stuffy. There’s just this part of us that wants to keep the rules, but maybe find ways to bend them without breaking them. I was really inspired a few weeks ago when I heard a message on the Sabbath Day commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.” It is a commandment like the others — so when I’m working and not resting and keeping it holy, then I’m disobeying. I know that God gave us the commandments as a set of life-giving guidelines that when we keep them, we’ll find the greatest pathways to living a blessed life. He gave them to us in the context of love.
The Ten Commandments (get that — commandments – not suggestions) were given to God’s children – not as an overbearing tyrant Who gives unreasonable demands on His subjects, but as a loving, caring, giving father or mother or husband or wife to the ones they love so much.
When I think of the Ten Commandments, I think about the Psalmist’s words in Psalm 19:7-14: “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is GREAT REWARD.”
I love that! So many promises from God Who wants us to succeed and be blessed in every area of our lives. So, of course, the Psalmist’s words here are filled with excitement about RULES! WHAT? Who gets excited about rules? We should. When it comes to God’s decrees, says the Psalmist, nothing could be better. They are more precious than gold and silver, sweeter than honey. He goes so far as to yearn for God’s commands, as if to say, “More! Give me more!”
Notice the Psalmist has a lot of different words for the Law: statutes, precepts, decrees, commands. It’s not just a matter of commandments that we have to follow. It’s a way of life that brings fulfillment and peace. That’s cause for rejoicing. I mean — just pick any commandment. What would be the long-term results of disregarding it? Pain, brokenness, separation from others and from God. Now, contrast this with the benefits of following that commandment. A healthy relationship with God, a stable family life, relationships of trust with others, a balanced life. God’s decrees really are sweeter than honey!
Maybe we should take some time today to think about how well we keep those commandment and are seeing the good fruit that is borne in our lives because of our obedience. And if we’re slacking – then it’s time to express our need for forgiveness and becoming a loving follower of God so that He can bless us with so many good and tasty things – like that sweet honey from the honeycomb.
“Father, thank you for loving us so much that you gave us the ways of experiencing your blessings here and forever.”