Why do we have such a hard
time doing the things God tells us to do? I have
read the Bible from cover to cover several times
in my life. I have studied every book to some
degree. I know what God asks me to do. For the
most part I have the basics down by now (with
a lot of help from Him that is). I tithe and
give above the tithe. I don’t neglect the
gathering together with other believers. I am
faithful to my husband. I don’t steal or
murder or any of those type things.
Still, I have a hard time
not finding fault with my husband rather than
seeing the heart of why he may have done that
thing. I know God tells me not to do that. I
believe that my life would be better if I obeyed
God, but do I? Do I really believe that it would
be better for me to be kind to my husband in
spite of the way he might treat me? My behavior
tells me I don’t believe that it will be
better for me if I react in love. There is a
larger part of me that still believes that I
know best. Therefore, I don’t believe in
God’s goodness.
God is not a rule giver because
He has big control issues and He wants to see
how much He can keep us from what is good in
this universe. He created the whole universe
for us. When He created it, He only had one rule.
That one rule was quickly broken. He responded
by giving us more rules to help us counteract
the horror we had done. The longer list of rules
corresponds to the longer list of evil we have
allowed into our lives. Why does God give rules
to live by on the earth? Because He loves us
and wants what is good or best for us.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 explains
God’s point of view on rules:
“And now, O Israel,
what does the Lord your God ask of you but
to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his
ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul,
and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees
that I am giving you today for your own good?”
Loving God is for our own
good. Rules work when we love God first.
Believing in God’s goodness
begins with loving Him. When we fear God, it
means that we are in awe of how amazing and purposeful
He is. We fear Him in honor and respect and admiration.
We want to walk in His ways because we love Him
and know that His ways are the best ways for
us. We trust that if we deny ourselves of the
way we think is right and do what He says we
will get a better result.
Okay, so I tried it tonight
with my husband and, guess what, it did work
out for my good. If only I will remember that
quickly enough next time. Perhaps it’s
not a memory problem but a loving God problem.
Why don’t you try one
thing that you know God has told you to do and
open your eyes to how obeying Him because you
love Him works out for your own good?
