I shudder to think, my course of life, had I not chosen Jesus, at the age of eight. Where would “life” had taken me? What choices would I have made that would have taken me on “Avenues” and “Crossroads” ending in the ditches of life? BUT GOD, rich in mercy, bestowed HIS AMAZING GRACE on my life. A little girl, choosing Jesus, changed the course of my life – FOREVER! He was my SAVIOR!
Then, while on my knees at camp, twelve years of age, I WANTED MORE! Yes, Jesus was my Savior, but I knew He needed to be the King of my life. I am now sixty-three years old. Have I always allowed Him his rightful place on the throne? Sadly, I must say, “NO”! Oh, I can give plenty of excuses; play the blame game, play my little “violin.” In those collision courses, I found myself to be on, one thing for sure, God was at work, prodding my heart, convicting me of sin, and in His mercy, allowed me to get back on the right track.
Preventive living is allowing the LIVING WORD of God to penetrate, bring me to my knees and simply OBEY. Obeying God’s Word, hiding it in my heart, which allows it, God’s inexhaustible Word, steer my heart towards Him. Obedience, a stepping stone to life’s incredible blessings! Simple obedience will allow God to show HIS POWER and SOVEREIGNTY in my life and yes, I WANT THAT! My Obedience to God will affect others and when I obey, GOD WILL NEVER DISAPPOINT ME. Does this mean there are no speed bumps, caution flags, collisions in this life? Again, the answer is, “NO”! Preventive living, obeying God’s Word, helps us to choose the right path when life happens. IT IS THE WISEST COURSE TO TAKE. He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. Who better to be behind the “stirring wheel” maneuvering the course of my life, than ALMIGHTY GOD! The giver and sustainer of life.
John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.”
II John 1:6, “And this is love: That we walk in obedience to his commands.”
Luke 11:28, “Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.”
Psalm 119:11, ” I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
I am reminded of an OLD HYMN OF THE FAITH, a song written by John H Sammis in 1887, “Trust and Obey” I love learning the “story” behind the hymn. At a revival meeting of Dwight Moody, a young man, during testimony service, stood and stated, “I am not quite sure…but I am going to trust and I am going to obey.” Ira Sankey, song leader for Moody, jotted down the last of what this young man said and sent it to John Sammis, his friend. From that, the following was written, a gift in song to us:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil he doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love, until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey
Then in fellowship sweet, we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do,
Where sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to Trust and Obey.
