Willful Disobedience

"And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”  John 3:36

God speaks to us each day in so many different ways.

Do you hear Him?

More importantly, do you obey His voice when He calls to you, beckoning you to the work of His hands?  He speaks to us through His Word so clearly, so lovingly.  Romans 11:22 offers us but a glimpse into His character and the importance of obeying Him, trusting Him.  It says, "Notice how God is both kind and severe.  He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off."

I have found that when His voice is the clearest to me, those are the times I am most tempted by evil to disobey.  It is at these times that I cannot claim ignorance of His will or His desire for me.  If I do not act according to His Word and His voice, I am living in willful disobedience.

Disobeying God is serious business, and He doesn't take it lightly.  Re-read the Scripture reference in John 3:36 above.  If that doesn't move you to resist the devil, I don't know what will.  It is a stern and serious warning, and I believe too few of us are heeding the Master's call to obey, even though there is a matchless reward attached to it.

Jesus tells us what that reward is in John 8:51.  It reads, "I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”  Jesus isn't talking about a physical death here, but a spiritual death.

But, what if you aren't hearing God?  What if you don't know what His voice sounds like in your own life?

The answer is that we can all hear the voice of God as we read His Word.  His Word is the voice of the triune God to both the believer and the unbeliever alike.  But, as a believer, when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our life, He speaks to us beyond Scripture.  He leads, guides and directs us, though we must be careful to ensure the voice we are hearing is not our own or the voice of evil.  We do this through constant repentance and confession of sin, and asking God to purify our heart and our motives, refining us more and more each day into the image of Jesus.

There is no better place to be in all the world than in the center of God's will, walking in obedience to Him.

Are you choosing to obey Him?

I pray that you are.

Goodnight, Runners.