pramsay posted on July 22, 2008 12:57 1796 views

Show Me More Things to Obey

“Do you think the King will be able to make it today? Age definitely takes its toll. It must be hard on him to be either in bed or in a chair. He won’t last much longer.”

In fact, hundreds of dignitaries had gathered to hear the last words of King David. Tribal leaders, army commanders, generals and captains, administrators of royal assets, palace officials, decorated warriors and other celebrated guests assembled for what everyone probably knew would be the last words of the King. You could hear a pin drop as all eyes were focused on the frail King propped up on his royal chair.

The ceremony was about to begin. Would he address them from the chair or would he make an effort to stand? Sure enough, he mustered up the strength and with all the determination he could find, he slowly lifts himself out of the chair. Every word the King would utter would be significant.

First King David explained to all the people that he really wanted to be the king who built a permanent house of worship for the Lord. But instead it would be his son Solomon who would have that honor.

“Shhhh – what’s he saying now? Listen carefully. He’s speaking to all of us.”

“Now therefore in the sight of all Israel

And in the audience of our God

KEEP and SEEK

for ALL the commandments of the Lord your God

That ye may possess this good land

And leave it to your children after you forever.”

1 Chronicles 28:8

It’s not enough just to keep and obey the things you have been taught from the Word of God. That’s the bare minimum. But King David added another requirement: SEEK for the commandments of the Lord in order that you might discover more things to obey. When I read my Bible each day, I should be looking for new things to obey – truth I’ve never noticed before or in the past ignored or dismissed as a non-essential. “Lord, I’m opening your Word just now. Show me something in this chapter that affects my life and help me to surrender and start putting it into practice.”

But so many of us think the fewer commandments there are to obey and the fewer restrictions placed on our lives and the fewer the obligations we have to honor the happier we will be. Who wants to be all bound up and hemmed in by a bunch of commandments?!!

Are you ready for this? We need to rethink what we think about the commandments of the Lord. The greatest expression of love and devotion is to surrender our own will to His – to happily obey every single thing He wants us to obey. Not to obey is not to love Him. We can’t love Him and not obey Him.

If a guy truly loves a girl, he will do everything he can to make her happy. He will SEEK for new ways to bring her happiness. He will STUDY her and SEARCH for clues as to what else will make her happy.

The Apostle John, distinguished for his intimacy with Christ made some eye-opening comments about commandments: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.”…  “This is the love of God that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 2:3-4; 5:3.

Keep what you already know to be the truth and keep seeking for more truths to obey. The more you obey the greater your joy will be and the more intimate your relationship with the Lord will be.

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ

Peter Ramsay

peter@heaven4sure.com

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