“I have found David . . who will do all My will.” Acts 13:22 NKJV
“People who learn obedience along the way have the least problem obeying God.”
My thoughts today are about “what God looks for.”
It is best to learn early in life that obedience is key to success. Why is such a simple thing often so hard for us to do? Actually being obedient is not difficult; wanting to obey, now that’s where the rub comes. What should be natural to us is anything but that. Reluctance to obey seems to be bred into us. Obedience is what pleases God; disobedience is what God condemns.
It is my observation that people who have learned obedience to others along the way have the least problem with obeying God. You first have the chance to learn to submit your will at home in the loving care of your parents. If you do not learn there, you will still find many other places to do so. And all the time God is grooming you for success.
As a child, your days are filled with the classroom where there is structure, things to do and not to do – order, times in which to accomplish those – and authority, where someone else is in charge. School is where you are to learn lessons that will serve you well the rest of your life – not only academic knowledge, but the real lessons of following directions, being graded and promoted on your progress and performance, building friendships by relating to others unselfishly, and cooperation by merging your will with others. And all the time God is watching what you’ve learned.
Then comes employment, your first job and every job that will follow. This is your graduate studies. You work for someone else, at their direction and pleasure. Often they are right, but even when they are not, they still have authority. You yet have much to learn, especially when you least think you do. And all the time God is teaching you to practice what you’ve learned.
Next comes marriage, the home and family, where all that you have learned – or failed to learn – is readily seen. The home is where authority and obedience is exercised and demonstrated. How well you learned obedience has much to do with how you will expect obedience and exercise authority. If force and fear were required for you to obey, then you will either exercise your place of authority by the reaction of being unduly permissive or by the extreme of overly demanding compliance without discussion or debate. If you learned the safety and satisfaction of obedience yourself, you will more likely be fair and considerate when in authority. See Matthew 8:5-10. And all the time God is letting you teach your family His ways.
All of this relates directly and daily to the reality and maturity of your relationship with God – everyday impacting your spiritual life and growth significantly. See Hebrews 5:8-9 NIV. Obedience is never an option; it is a requirement for further success in life, and for a blessed eternity. God said, “I have found David, a man after My own heart who will do all My will.” And all the time God is looking for a heart that will do all His will.
Now you see what God found in David. Here is what David found in God, and what you will find also. A person’s last words are considered of prime importance, and these are David’s. “His agreement is eternal, final, sealed. God will constantly look after my safety and success.” 2 Samuel 23:5 NLT. When God finds what He is looking for in you, you will find what you are looking for in God.
My prayer for you today is to personally know the safety and satisfaction of obeying.