TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL
OBEYING GOD IN LOVE
Thursday, 20 December 2018
Romans 13 : 8-14
“Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties……… Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” -Romans 13:13-14[NLT]
Our approach towards God’s word and our associations with man, coupled with systems and traditions of men have a great impact in our lives and that of others. The very word of the Lord that we profess to uphold based on our character and approach, can turn out to be an instrument of building up or of destruction against the crown of God’s creation, which is man. Our attitude toward God’s word is very important and if not characterized and propelled by Love, we will end up doing the work of God and forget the God of His work.
The following Scriptures help us discover the strength of zeal without knowledge: Philippians 3:6, Romans 10:2 and Galatians 1:13-14. We understand from 2 Peter 1: 3 that “…His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us…” Thus, we need to learn to know the Lord better each day. God is Love and He created us in His image and likeness in order to exhibit His exact image unto humanity. Whenever we conduct ourselves properly under God’s divine command, then the expressions of love, forgiveness and compassion come from a sincere heart of service unto humanity. God who searches the heart and examines mind, gives us the reward and empowers us to do more.
It is not that we just love him; we love because He first loved us. Because of the Love of God for our lives, we have an obligation, not to live as our human nature wants us to, but to live by the Spirit of God. This is why we are encouraged to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Otherwise we are most often led by the sinful self. But when we choose to serve the Lord in obedience and love, we bring into fulfillment the authority of His laws and commands in our lives. Job knew about this very thing when he said: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.” (Job 13:15,16)
Even though we are living in a world that is grossly infested and surrounded with wickedness, yet we should always see ourselves through the eyes of our conscience in obedience to the Lord; because if our conscience condemns us, we know that God is greater than our conscience and that He knows everything. The expression of our Lord Jesus Christ to Peter in John 21:15-17 on Peter’s love for Him, gives us clear picture of what our Lord and Master desires of us as His children. Because God loves us, He encourages us as thus: “So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer Yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God— what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.” (Rom.12:1-2 GNT)
Prayer:
Lord God, transform me inwardly
that I may experience Your love and know what is good and
pleasing to You and conduct my life
according to Your way. Amen.
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