Benescke Janse van Rensburg
How do we show God that we love Him? Is it by baking the most pancakes at the church bazaar or singing the loudest in church? Or perhaps by never missing a church service, or leading a small group? Or do we demonstrate our love towards Him by being obedient to Him?
Although we know that God is present when we praise Him, we find a rather important warning in Amos 5. God abhors it when we become so consumed with doing good things to impress one another that we no longer seek Him.
Listen to God's words in Amos 5: 22-24: “Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.” Also in 1 Samuel 15:22 we read: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
How do we demonstrate our love towards God? Through our obedience. Noah immediately began to build the boat after God commanded Him to do it. Abraham left immediately to go and sacrifice Isaac (though the command did not make sense at all). And Jesus was obedient to die on the cross, even if it caused him to sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. Obedience demonstrates our faith in God. It shows that, even though we do not understand the command, we trust Him enough with our future. After all, he determines it.
What has God laid on your heart? Let us show our faith in Him by acting immediately because we trust Him with our futures. After all, it is in His hands. God bless.
Father God, I love You infinitely. Please help me to demonstrate this love to You by immediately obeying - even if the command seems daunting. Also, please show me if there are any “dead works” in my life that I should renounce. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Assignment: Let’s examine our hearts like the Psalmist writes about in Psalm 139 and ask God to show us if there is anything in our lives that does not please Him.
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