“If you love Me,
obey My commandments.”
John 14:15
Perspective can so easily get imbalanced.
Perhaps you learn something new and suddenly you believe this one thing is the answer to everything. Or maybe you refuse to alter a particular viewpoint even when new information comes to light because… well, change can be pretty uncomfortable.
Whether it’s the latest craze in food and health, the newest of what technology has to offer, or the most recent scientific, political, or financial discovery, our pendulum seems to swing quickly to the extremes.
This can happen just as easily in our spiritual walk.
Maybe you hear a great teaching on trust and think everyone’s problem is that they just don’t trust enough. Then you read a fantastic book on prayer and now everyone’s issue is not praying enough. It’s easy to obsess on the latest topic rather than bringing it into the pool of what you already know.
Instead of swinging back and forth between individual points of truth, each piece we learn should build upon another to bring us closer to the full truth.
We all have so much to learn, no matter how much we know. Even after three years of living with and learning from Jesus, the disciples still didn’t know all there was to know. Jesus explained to them in John 16:
“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth…”
(v. 12-13)
Thankfully, the Holy Spirit still leads any who are willing into all truth. He is constantly unfolding the bigger picture to bring us into the balance of the full and accurate knowledge of God.
I was reminded recently of one area that often gets imbalanced: intimacy with God versus walking in obedience.
While some focus solely on the joy of living in the secret place of God’s love and others emphasize following His commandments, our Creator designed us to live and walk in a divine combination of worship and obedience.
“We need both reverence and obedience. If we worship but do not walk in obedience and discipline, we are emotional, lacking self-control and godly character. If we obey God’s commandments but are not true worshipers, we become religious and judgmental. As the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, we may miss the real meaning and purpose, even God Himself.” –This Beloved Road: A Journey of Revelation and Worship
I’m learning more each day, for our intimacy and our humility to be pure they must walk hand in hand. God desires a perfect harmony of love and discipline.
While I often emphasize the grace and goodness of our Creator, for the next few posts I’m going to share some exciting truths about obedience. Submission is not the burden that many think it to be. It is also not meant to take away your joy. Since creation, Satan has tried to deceive us into believing that when we obey God we miss out on something good; that obedience limits our happiness. But the truth is just the opposite!
Obedience to God is the most joyful, secure place you can be.
Please join me in the coming weeks as we explore God’s heart about obedience and how it opens wide the door for His Kingdom to come on earth. Come expectant. Come open to the Holy Spirit’s teaching. Come knowing that the more you understand about obedience, the more you will believe:
“It will be my joy to say, ‘Your will, Your way – always.”
– Chris Tomlin, Lay Me Down –
Searching for more soothing inspiration? Continue to read encouragement for the heart ~ Getting New Eyes
Amy Layne Litzelman is passionate about knowing God more intimately in each moment and helping others do the same. Amy released her first book, This Beloved Road: A Journey of Revelation and Worship, in 2011. She has also composed over seventy songs, recorded four CDs, and traveled to teach and lead worship across the United States and in the Philippines and China. She and her husband, Matt, live in Jackson Hole, WY and have two adult sons.
Learn more about gifted faith writer Amy Layne Litzelman
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