Worship

Scripture

When my great niece was eight, she asked her father a theological question:  “If a person wants to love Jesus, will they?”

True, this question features an innocent pronoun error with the singular noun person grating numerically against its plural referent they, but don’t dismiss the query on the basis of  grammar. Though the child’s question seems naive, we should dig beneath the surface to contemplate the difference between want and obedience.  The most important word in the conditional clause leading to the question is wants.  We know God will not make us choose to obey.  The choice to obey must be ours, willfully.

For example, I may sincerely want to generously support my church’s ministry, understanding that giving joyfully and generously is God’s expressed desire for my stewardship.  But if my attitude toward possessions is tight-fisted and self-centered, wanting to support the church easily becomes secondary to my material wants.  I’m neither a cheerful nor a generous giver!  In this circumstance, wanting to do right is meaningless, and I will certainly expect no reward or blessing for obedience.

As we consider today’s reading, a similar question to my great niece’s question confronted the Israelites in Leviticus 26 when God presented them with two alternatives.  On one hand, if they chose to love God and showed care to follow His decrees and obey His command, He would bless their lives with idyllic peace and tranquility.  Conversely, if they failed to love and obey God, He would punish their disobedience harshly with “multiplied afflictions” and their “cities turned into ruins.” 

What ancient Jew did not want the blessings and rewards of obedience?  Only a fool in ancient Israel wanted otherwise!  But what were the people’s actions in the successive generations?  Their faithfulness was inconsistent, their devotion waxed and waned, their obedience was uneven.  Often, they rebelled.  And what was their condition by the end of the Old Testament period?  They end as a defeated, failed, and broken people who had lost God’s favor.  Their end shows that merely wanting to love God is worthless, because of this significant difference between want and obedience.

What’s different in the Age of the Church?  Nothing, really.  My grand niece’s poignant question challenges us to introspection.  Of course, we want to love Jesus.  Desperately and sincerely!

But will we?  

And more importantly, will obedience follow want?

Prayer

HONOR GOD

God is more concerned with your willingness to glorify Him than what you have to offer Him. Will you honor Him, now, with what you have? Take a moment and give Him your best praise in prayer.

ASK GOD

God is ready to meet you in your time of need. Where do you need God’s grace?

SUBMIT TO GOD

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, help me to cling to your promises for they are the realest thing I have. They are true and everlasting. Do not allow me to give up your promises for simple earthly pleasures or moments of weakness. Keep me from the temptations of the enemy and may your Holy Spirit guide me in my walk each and everyday.  In Jesus Name, Amen.