Obeying God’s Commandments
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Sin takes a toll on our thinking, and we must pay the price of ignorance by confessing that we don’t understand many things. It is fortunate for us that God, in His mercy and love, understands this, and gives us clear commandments to follow in His word. There are some things that I simply do not need to understand to obey God’s commandments. The only question that I need to answer is whether I am going to obey. This is the greatest struggle that we face as God’s people; will it be our own will or God’s will that we follow? We must obey God’s commandments. If we love God, we will obey (1 John 5:2-3). Failure to obey is simply a lack of love for God in our life. Sometimes, however, there are those who use God’s commandments to elevate self. The Pharisees had this problem. They did not look at God’s commandments as a way to improve their relationship with God, but rather, as a way to elevate themselves over their fellow man. This notion of “obedience” is deceptive, because it isn’t really obedience, it is haughtiness. The problem is the same problem as those who refuse to obey—they love self more than they love God. We learn that we must empty self if we are to obey God in the way God wants to be obeyed (Philippians 2:5-8). Love God enough to study His word, learn His commands, and obey them, and be free of self. God bless you, and I love you. Kevin Cauley