LOVE OBEDIENCE

Psalms 119:166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

Throughout his life, David acknowledged his sin. Because his passions so often led him astray, he often felt that he had lost all chances of sanctity, that he had incurred the fatal results of breaking the commandments of God (Deuteronomy 27:26)),. Yet, he hoped for salvation. He hoped, but not in vain. He hoped in God; he had confidence in the great everlasting mercies of his Lord. This hope, born of his love for his Lord, was the driving force behind the doing of the commandments.

Love makes obedience a thing of joy!
To do the will of one we like to please
Is never hardship, though it tax our strength;
Each privilege of service love will seize!

Love makes us loyal, glad to do or go,
And eager to defend a name or cause;
Love takes the drudgery from common work,
And asks no rich reward or great applause.

Love gives us satisfaction in our task,
And wealth in learning lessons of the heart;
Love sheds a light of glory on our toil
And makes us humbly glad to have a part.

Love makes us choose to do the Will of God,
To run His errands and proclaim His truth;
It gives our hearts an eager, lilting song;
Our feet are shod with tireless wings of youth!
---Hazel Hartwell Simon

Oh, so many have got it wrong; so many try to use their ‘good works’, their religious obedience to commandments, to bargain their salvation from God. But can one bargain with God? Can one dress himself with the fancy clothe of good works, put on the perfume of virtue, fashion, piety, and try to fool God into rewarding them with Salvation? Nay, my friend, obedience to God is an act of love born of gratitude--not a marketing tool.

Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.