Obedience part 2
We think obedience is doing something we don't want to do because its "good for us." But that's the wrong mindset to have. Because I've found that the two hardest things to do are 1. Doing something you don't want to do or 2. Not doing something you do want to do. Going against your nature, if I can say it that way. Its pretty much impossible. And even if you do force yourself to go against your nature, you're not going to do it 100%. Colossians 3:23 says, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." Whatever we do we are to do it heartily. Do it because its in our heart to do it. So "obedience" CAN'T mean, "do what you don't want to do just because its good for you." Especially in light of the truth we saw yesterday that keeping Jesus' commandments means loving each other as He loves us. If you think obedience is loving people even when you don't want to... I'm sorry to say you may not fully understand what love is. Love is giving. Giving everything you have and everything you are without worrying about what comes next. It doesn't matter if it seems like the more you love people the less they love you. It doesn't matter if people pick up what you put down. All that matters is that you do what's in your heart to do. That you let God love you and love Him back by loving people. Do it as unto the Lord. Love God and love people. Love God BY loving people. Receive and release the love of God by letting Him love the hell out of you and loving the people you come into contact with, with that same love. And, look, as always, I'm not saying you should ever put, or keep, yourself in a bad situation. If someone is abusing you, you can turn the other cheek. You don't have to retaliate. But you don't have to stand there forever and let them keep slapping you. Sometimes you have to love people from a distance. Some people don't belong in your life. But if your heart is pricked for someone, whether they do you right, wrong, or indifferent, that's where you need to listen to your heart. Jesus said "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" (John 6:38). The God who is love placed His love in our hearts. So its not us doing something that we don't want to do because we're afraid we'll get in trouble if we don't. Its us understanding that His will IS our will. Sometimes it doesn't feel that way. Sometimes that still, small voice is hard to hear. But when we embrace the truth that our heavenly Father's will is to love us and take care of us and protect us... that there is a more excellent way and His name is Jesus (His name is love)... when we stop fighting against what truly IS best for us... that's when we can begin to experience all of the good things that God has for us. That God has already given to us. We don't obey in order to be rewarded. We obey because we trust the one who is giving us His commandments. You don't have to know what tomorrow holds... when you know the One who holds tomorrow. We don't have to fight against His will, when we know that its love, love, love. When you ARE loved, you can obey the command TO love.