The blessings of loving and obeying God

Posted on by

(I was blessed to be one of the speakers at our church’s women’s retreat last weekend. At the request of several people, I will be sharing online the things I discussed with our women. This is the first offering.)

I think most of us have either loved someone or been loved by someone (we can even include pets). If we love someone, we want to spend time with them.

Jesus said we’re to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Many people say they love God; however, just saying the words isn’t enough. If we truly love God, we will obey Him. Love calls for action, and obedience is the sign of love.

“The Gospels call us to obedience, not as an optional extra, but as a basic requirement for all who would follow Christ.” ~ Missionary, Helen Roseveare[i]

Jesus said, “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.” “The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me, and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]” (John 14:21, AMPC)

“Obedience prepares the mind for revelation, takes from that revelation the light that dazzles the spirit’s vision and prepares the heart to receive wider demonstrations of the grace of God.” ~ Joseph Parker

Loving God and obeying Him gives the beautiful opportunity to be divinely loved and given further insight and revelation.

Oswald Chambers wrote, if my relationship to God is that of love, “I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself. Jesus Christ will not force me to obey Him, but I must. And as soon as I obey Him, I fulfill my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small, petty happenings, altogether insignificant. But if I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God. … When God’s redemption brings a human soul to the point of obedience, it always produces. If I obey Jesus Christ, the redemption of God will flow through me to the lives of others, because behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God.”[ii]

Every step we take forward in obedience to God leads to the blessings of God, opening more of our understanding, opening more doors, and giving the excitement of seeing more of what God is doing and how He is working.

Remember, God loves you. He loves with an unfailing, everlasting, steadfast, merciful, grace-filled love and in God’s presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11) and “Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary” (1 Chronicles 16:27). So, when we love God, spend time with Him, and obey Him, we find His joy. And the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

If you have trouble obeying God, ask Him to make you willing to be willing to do His will, and please don’t miss the beautiful blessings of obeying God.

“He is our Lord, and therefore He is to be served; He is our gracious Lord, and therefore to be served with joy.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments” (John 14:15, AMP).
“If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions],
you will abide in My love and live on in it,
just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love” (John 15:10, AMPC).

[i] Roseveare, Helen, Living Holiness: Willing to be the Legs of a Galloping Horse
[ii] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, November 2

The post, The blessings of loving and obeying God, first appeared on https://lisabuffaloe.com

Tender boundaries

Posted on by

Many times, I’ve felt caged by circumstances. Like a racehorse trapped at the starting gate, I have, cried, kicked and bashed against the confining boundaries. If only I could run free, I would be happy and satisfied.

My visual is not a pretty picture. Being antsy and frustrated at not being able to do what I want to do, or go where I want to go, have left my little racehorse-self battered and bruised.

Jesus says come to Me and I will give you rest. I picture the Lord sitting and watching from the stands at the race track. I’m having a fit at not being able to run, but then I realize God placed the boundaries around me.

When I was younger and horrible things happened and no one was there to help, my Father God held me close and loved me back to life. During times of illness and surgeries, when I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t move physically, but my spirit soared in the freedom of His presence. When I felt confined in a new location without friends and family, I discovered more of the friendship and relationship with God.

God’s boundaries have kept me from making bad mistakes and from pursuing things I thought I wanted. His boundaries have kept me from things I thought I was ready to handle, but looking back I see how disastrous that would have been.

I still see myself as a little racehorse enclosed at the starting gate, but now the visual is an enclosure padded with His love. I’m standing, waiting, held tenderly tight in the freedom and unfailing love of God.

Feeling confined? Remember, God’s boundaries are always tender with His love.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” ~ Psalm 16:6 (NIV)

“You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.” ~ Psalm 139:5-6 (NASB)

From We Were Meant for Paradise by Lisa Buffaloe, https://amzn.to/3ITTAOn

Come to Jesus

Posted on by

Come to Jesus.

Are you thirsty and hungry for meaning, for hope, for peace, for rest, and a new life?

Come to Jesus — He is the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the Prince of Peace born to bring us peace. He brings rest, and He is The Life who brings eternal, abundant life. (John 6:35, John 7:38, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 11:28, John 10:10)

Are you lost in darkness, longing for truth, needing forgiveness, and have you lost your way?

Come to Jesus — He is Light of the world to light your path and illumine your heart and mind. He is the Truth bringing truth. He is The Way to heaven. He is the Savior, offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who will come and believe. (John 8:12, John 12:46, John 14:6, Colossians 1:13-14, John 3:16-17).

Come to Jesus. The offer is for all of your needs. Come to Jesus.

 

The post, Come to Jesus, first appeared on https://lisabuffaloe.com