Seeking Him Week Seven Obedience The Litmus Test of Love

Seeking Him Week Seven—Obedience: The Litmus Test of Love

7/13/2021

Welcome to our Summer 2021 Book Club-Style Bible Study! We are using the book Seeking Him by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Tim Grissom.

How would you like to seek personal revival with us this summer and change your life forever! I have done this study twice now, and let me tell you, it is life changing!

Join us for 12 weeks this summer on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 est beginning June 1 through August 17. If you can't come then, come when you can.

Whether you are a brand new lover of Jesus Christ, or you’ve been a Christian for years, this insightful study will impact your life in a transformative way. Seeking Him will reward you with a deeper walk with God and set your life on a path to be used greatly by our Savior.

Obedience: The Litmus Test of Love

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15

As we set out on the path of seeking God for revival, we find ourselves camping out in the place of grace. It has washed over us and overwhelmed us, and we are full of gratitude—as we should be. We have been saved by His grace, and we are in the process of being sanctified by His grace.

But we can be stopped in our tracks on the “Seeking Him” path if we use His grace as an excuse to indulge our flesh.

“…Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” Romans 6:1

God desires us to move forward on the path, by His grace, in obedience to His Word. He has poured out His love into us which gives us an insatiable desire to please Him.

“I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart!” (Psalm 119:32

He has told us the things He loves and the things He hates, and we can do nothing less than live a life of obedience for His glory.

This is going to involve a daily—even a moment by moment—surrender to the Father’s will. Jesus set the pattern for us living a life of “Not my will, but Thy will be done.”

Get in the habit of saying, “Yes, Lord!” His way is best and is always for our good. Any other way leads to destruction. This is not only true in the big decisions of life, but in the 1001 seemingly little decisions we make daily.

Obedience is foundational. It is walking in wisdom.

“Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock….And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” Matthew 7:24,26

When walking in this wisdom, embracing Him and embracing His truth, our obedience is greatly rewarded.

“The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." Psalm 19:8-11

We are blessed with the sweetness of His precepts, His commandments, and His rules.

How is that even possible? In our obedience we see the beauty of these truths that God has given us to follow. They work! They really do give peace and life!

A beautiful example of this is seen in Psalm 119.

This Psalm is about the preciousness of God’s Word. But it is even more than that.

Have you noticed the psalmist’s frequent references to

God’s laws?
His commandments?
His statutes?
His rules?
His precepts?

He loves them!

“My soul is consumed with longing for Your rules at all times.” (v20)

“Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.” (v35)

“Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me life.” (v40)

“…I find my delight in Your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.” (v47-48)

These are a few of many similar verses in this chapter. My heart is stirred and convicted as I read them. I pray He will give me a heart of love for His commandments as He did the psalmist. To delight in them. Pursue them. Long for them. To obey Him in all things.

I pray this for you too.

I know that I have long camped out in the place of grace, being overwhelmed by my need for it and at the same time completely in awe of it and grateful for it! Obedience is foundational for showing my gratitude for this place of grace. It's how I seek Him, moment by moment. How will you seek Him this week?

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18 Comments

Barbara Harper link

7/13/2021 09:19:01 am

It's too bad that modern Christianity has set commands and obedience in opposition to grace, when Jesus said obedience shows we love Him. In the book I linked to today, Ten Words to Live By by Jen Wilkin, she said we obey "not out of dread to earn his favor, but out of delight because we already have it” (p. 15). Amen!

Julie

7/13/2021 09:41:44 am

That is a good way to put it, Barbara. Grace and obedience go hand-in-hand. They must be taken together. Because of His love poured out on me, I desire to obey Him all my days. I just read this morning in Ephesians 4 where Paul, in prison, calls Himself the "prisoner of the Lord." His grace has freed us, and now we cast ourselves on Him. Lord, what would You have us to do? We can wholeheartedly say this because we know His love for us. Thanks for your comment!

Michele Morin link

7/13/2021 09:53:59 am

Reminded of Jesus's words, "If you love me, keep my commandments."
We put feet to our faith when we follow well.

7/13/2021 09:44:51 pm

I think about that when I say “I love You” to God. True love for Him will overflow into actions of obedience.

Donna link

7/13/2021 10:36:10 am

Julie, excellent article explaining the interweaving of obedience and grace. Too many today take one or the other, which is not how Jesus intended. I love Barbara Harper's quote from Jen Wilkin's book, 10 Words-sums it all up nicely.

7/13/2021 09:46:19 pm

❤️

Jerralea Winn Miller link

7/13/2021 12:08:45 pm

It is so true that obedience is foundational. If we love Him, we keep His commandments. It's as simple as that.

And when you think of all He has done for us, how could we not love Him?

Patsy Burnette link

7/16/2021 06:33:43 am

It is foundational, Jerralea, and simple. Yes so very difficult for us sometimes. I love that —> "And when you think of all He has done for us, how could we not love Him?" :) So true! I'm just going to let my mind camp there today!

Susan Shipe link

7/13/2021 04:11:22 pm

Our desire is always to please those we love. No different with our Savior.

7/16/2021 06:37:39 am

Yes, Susan, it should be. Sometimes though, through my choices, I wonder if I don't love ME more than anything or anyone else. That's when I have to ask myself Jerralea's question, "And when you think of all He has done for us, how could we not love Him?" It helps me recenter my mind back onto the One I should love the most!

[email protected] link

7/14/2021 05:46:16 am

Julie, much truth in this article. His commands and precepts have been given to us for our good and to protect us. "When walking in this wisdom, embracing Him and embracing His truth, our obedience is greatly rewarded." You brought to mind Psalm 23:6: "Certainly goodness and [b]faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life,"

7/16/2021 06:43:16 am

I love that passage, Joanne! His commands and precepts, they are our protection. Embracing His truth, this will be our reward. And His goodness and faithfulness, they will follow us ALL the days of our lives! :)

Jan link

7/14/2021 11:06:01 am

Great article! I think a lot of ppl think obedience is optional. It's a suggestion or advice I may utilize someday. Oh how much more we would experience if only we were totally obedient!

7/16/2021 06:46:01 am

For sure, Jan, in today's society, even in the church, it appears that many think obedience is optional, suggested, or just good advice. "Oh how much more we would experience if only we were totally obedient!" <— TRUTH!

Lauren Renee Sparks link

7/14/2021 03:20:31 pm

All parents, regardless of whether or not they know Jesus, try to teach this to their children. It takes some of us a long time to get it.

7/16/2021 06:48:51 am

LOL Lauren, it took me a verrrrrry long time to "get it." My poor parents! My patient parents! My loving, pursuing, faithful, patient God!!! :)

Paula Short link

7/15/2021 11:01:17 am

Amen Julie, thank you for this blessed lesson. Psalm 119 is one that I find myself meditating on frequently, it just takes me away in awe and praise. Blessings.
~Selah~

7/16/2021 06:51:15 am

Psalm 119:103 is the verse my new book "Sweeter Than Honey" is centered around—actually, it's centered around the whole Bible, but this verse in particular. :) There are so many great meditation spots to land on it this chapter of the Psalms!

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