Our Lord never insists on obedience. He stresses very definitely what we ought to do, but He never forces us to do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit with Him. That is why whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an “If,” meaning, “You do not need to do this unless you desire to do so.” “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…” (Luke 9:23). In other words, “To be My disciple, let him give up his right to himself to Me.” Our Lord is not talking about our eternal position, but about our being of value to Him in this life here and now. That is why He sounds so stern (see Luke 14:26). Never try to make sense from these words by separating them from the One who spoke them.The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself. Jesus Christ will not force me to obey Him, but I must. And as soon as I obey Him, I fulfill my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small, petty happenings, altogether insignificant. But if I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God. Then, when I stand face to face with God, I will discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When God’s redemption brings a human soul to the point of obedience, it always produces. If I obey Jesus Christ, the redemption of God will flow through me to the lives of others, because behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God.

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November 2, 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning God. Thank You for this day and the opportunity to start my day with You. I recall and read that we are not to confuse the commandments of Jesus with the Ten Commandments. Jesus was clear when asked about the commandments: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments,” (Matt 22:36-40, Amp).

The lesson further reinforces what You have been teaching us about surrender: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…” (Luke 9:23). In other words, “To be My disciple, let him give up his right to himself to Me.”

This seems very consistent with Your leading over the past several months and years; that when we are in an intimate relationship with You (loving You with all our heart and mind) and surrendered (giving up our rights to ourselves) and connected, we then are in a position to allow You in the person of the Holy Spirit to live through us and guide us into obedience.

 

And God says…”Trust in Me with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding and I will make your paths straight. I will lead you into obedience out of your surrender and connection with Me, not because you feel obligated or guilty, but out of love. And I even provide you this capacity to love, when you ask for the ability to surrender. When you love Me with all your heart and soul, it is surrender. And out of this love comes the ability to love yourself and your neighbor.”

“When you seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, I can meet all your needs, because you allow Me to do this out of your surrender. You can choose to strive, grit your teeth and try, try, try to meet your own needs…and fail. You can choose to strive to become a better person, a better Christian, a better husband, wife, mother or father,  son or daughter, employer or employee, a better provider…and over time you will fail. Or you can choose to surrender and delight yourself in Me and allow Me to give you the desires of your heart. Take My yoke upon you daily….and let go of your own ideas of how to live and you will discover the daily wonder and true success and satisfaction of a surrendered and connected life”.