Obey - and you will be joyful

Mon, 2 Dec 1996

     Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 320 

     Here's another daily meditation from my recent book of devotions
     'Sunrise Sunset' (HarperCollins/Harper San Francisco). Feel free to
     use/adapt it. These appear regularly on our mail-list.

     Shalom!  Rowland Croucher

     Director, John Mark Ministries - resources for pastors/leaders.
       (Bookroom, library, and worldwide F.W.Boreham Trading Post)
                 Home Page: http://www.pastornet.net.au/jmm


                      OBEY - AND YOU WILL BE JOYFUL.


Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you
upright in heart. Psalm 32: 11.


Obey - and you'll be joyful.  There are many verbs in the Bible in the
imperative mood.  Jesus is our Lord: he has the right to command.  But
he is also our Lover, and we should want to obey (John 14:21).  David,
who was tempted to think he was accountable only to himself, fell badly.
 He should have learned from his predecessor Saul's experience with the
Amalekites (see 1 Samuel 15:22). 'To obey is better than sacrifice' is a
recurring theme throughout the prophets and in the teaching of Jesus. As
in any love relationship, the lover wants the beloved, not merely tokens
or 'sacrifices'.

The key question for the Christian isn't 'What's going to happen to me?'
but 'What does my Lord want me to do?' It isn't 'Why is this happening
to me?' but 'What is his will for me in this situation?' If we ask the
right questions, we needn't worry when we don't understand all the
reasons for God's actions.


Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to
trust and obey! Amen.
____________________________

Clergy/Leaders' Mailing List                        (Moderated)

This mailing list is open to all Christians via Internet e-mail 
and most fax destinations.

Submissions welcome: clergy@pastornet.net.au 

To unsubscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au 
                               with SUBJECT reading UNSUBSCRIBE

   Copyright: Postings may be re-sent ONLY with all copyright
                     notifications intact.

        A PastorNET ministry: manager@pastornet.net.au

Clergy Mailing List Index | Mailing List Index | PastorNET Home Page | John Mark Ministries Home Page