“Produce fruit in keeping
with repentance.” – Matthew 3:8
So often in life we fail to
accomplish some goal we set for our self, or we fall short of getting that pay
raise or promotion we worked so hard to attain. When we try in our own efforts
to succeed, we often fail to achieve the desired results. The disciples gave us
a great example of obedience, after they fished all night without any success.
As they returned the next morning, Jesus called from the shore and instructed
them to go back out and to throw in their nets on the right side of the boat.
When they obeyed, they had
to get help hauling in all of the fish they caught (John
21:6). The disciples were successful
only when they obeyed the Lord. They followed His instructions explicitly and
reaped the rewards. God does not receive pleasure or praise in the results of
the humanistic efforts of our plans, goals and accomplishments. Instead, He
only delights in our obedience to His will (1 Samuel 15:22).
Humanity
considers God’s laws restrictive and oppressive. We want the freedom to sin
against others, but we blame God when others sin against us. God’s judgment is
not mean or vindictive. It is His loving attempt to draw us away from sin and
back into His protection and abundance. Even in judgment, God gives His people
every opportunity to repent and to return to Him (Jeremiah 15:19). In the end, these same
people that give God the most grief through their hatred, give Him unrivaled
joy the instant they humble their self, repent, trust in Him and obey the
leading of His Spirit (Luke 15:7).
However,
the multitude of humanity that fail to take advantage of the opportunity He
gives us to live in His joy and peace on earth, will spend eternity suffering
more than they are ever hurting now. Incalculable anguish and desolation is
inevitable in this life as well as in the next, whenever we live outside of
God’s will. Sometimes, people give up after making a few attempts to follow
God’s will because they miss out on some imagined blessing that they counted on
receiving (Ecclesiastes 5:1). If they only waited a little longer and walked with
God a little further, the effort of their obedience would bring more lasting
rewards than reaping the results they are looking for (1 Samuel
13:13).
Sometimes,
we cannot see how the task God gives us fits into His overall plan until years
after the event. At other times, we will not even know the effect of our
obedience until eternity dawns and God opens the eyes of our understanding.
This is not important, however. Delayed
gratification provides a way of gaining assured pleasure in the future. It is
like making deposits into our savings account. We bring God glory with every obedient step we take,
regardless of the outcome. God wants complete devotion to Him from a dedicated
heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:33). Sometimes, that is the only result He is looking
for.
Prayer:
Father
God, help us to take our eyes off the results of our efforts and to realize
that obedience is what You are looking for from us. Help us to love You with a
heart of full devotion, not distracted by the temptation of worldly pleasure,
praise, glory or benefits. We want to do Your will in everything we say and do
each and every day of our life. We give You the glory for every positive consequence
we receive from our efforts in life, and we return all the praise we receive
back to You.
Thought
for the Day:
God prefers obedience to sacrifice, a humble
spirit and repentant heart rather than accomplishments from our own efforts (Psalm 51:17; Ephesians 2:8-10).Thank you, Joshua White, for the use of your photo.
