OBEDIENCE

Mark 3:5
Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
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In the face of so many problems we are facing, we still try to avoid God. We would rather cry alone than let Him cry with us. He is asking us to reach out to Him, but our pride overcomes us. We failed to realize that with a simple act of obedience, we would all be healed of all our sufferings.

Our love for God helps us to be obedient to God in our daily lives. That love convicts us of our own wrongdoing and then frees us to the restoration and reconciliation that only comes from serving Jesus Christ as our Savior. It is a love born out of obedience and trust in a Sovereign and living God.

When we love God that way and are obedient to Him, then it also frees us to love others. Obedience to God breaks down barriers and allows us to reach out in love to our neighbor. Do you love? Do you obey? We do not need an angel coming to us in a dream to challenge us to follow God. Instead, we have God’s greatest messenger, His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ to follow, to serve, to depend upon, and to love.

Go on, and reach out to Him. Show Him the obedience that has grown out of love – His love for you… His love for all of us.

Let us pray +

Heavenly Father, who loved us so much that You sent Your Son, born of a virgin who was engaged to a righteous man, we are so grateful for Your unselfish act of creation. We know that there is nothing we can do to repay You for this wonderful gift, so we offer to You our lives, our beings, our obedience, and we ask that You would help us to live as You call us to live. In Jesus’ precious name we pray,

Amen +

He has won renown for his wondrous deeds; gracious and merciful is the LORD.