Obedience

		"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"  (Galatians 5:7).      Obey.... this is a word that our flesh does not like. Children are taught to obey their parents, teachers and anyone else who is in authority over them. We think when we are children, "I can not wait to grow up so I don't have to obey anyone!"   Then we grow up. We then have to obey traffic laws, civic laws and our employers. It seems we are always having to obey someone.  We know that if we don't obey our boss, we will be unemployed. If we don't obey the traffic laws, we will be fined. If we don't obey the civic laws, we might end up in jail. There is punishment for disobedience.      While we are so diligent to make sure we obey all those on this earth that we are to obey, we often fail to obey the One who really matters...God. Why do we find it so hard to obey God? Why is it a drudgery for some to obey Him? "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."  (1John 5:3).      It should be a pleasure to obey God. His word tells us that His commandments are not grievous. In other words, they are not an inconvenience or hardship. God is never going to ask us to do something that we cannot do with His help. He is never going to require us to do something that cannot be done. Why then, do we fail so often to obey Him? "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"  (Romans 6:16).      We are all obeying someone. We either obey God or Satan. If we obey flesh, man or Satan, we are not in obedience to God. He wants simple obedience. He is looking for someone to say, "Lord, whatever You want me to do, I will do it". He wants us to obey Him just like we want our children to obey us. He is not being mean to us. He knows what is best for us. He guides us and leads us on the right path for our good. If we disobey and stray off the path, we are headed for trouble, heartache and pain. "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you" . (Matthew 21:28-31).      These two sons are a lot like our children, or like we were when we were young. The father asked the son to go work out in the field. One said he wouldn't (maybe he though he had better things to do with his time, or he thought the work was too hard). Later, he felt guilty; and because of the love he had for his father, he repented and went and worked. The other son agreed to do it, but failed to show up. His word was not honored. The first son obeyed his father and that is what the father was looking for.      God is looking for obedient children. He wants to bless us, but if we are always off doing our own thing, that cannot happen.  Are you obedient to the Father? You can sacrifice all your time and money for good causes, but if you are not obedient to the Father's will, it will not benefit you. "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."          (1 Samuel 15:22).      His word is filled with commands to love, honor, help, pray, study, forgive; and so much more. Study His word to find out what He wants you to do. Pray and listen for His voice to tell you what to do. If you ask what He wants you to do, He will let you know. Be obedient. "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).