GOD’S PREREQUISITE
Exodus
19:5-6
Now
therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be
my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you
shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
These words that the covenant people
of Israel received are just as meaningful for us today as we stand in bonded
relationship with God. The Israelites had experienced terrible trials and
slavery in Egypt for four hundred years. They endured many dark nights of
despair and discouragement. Yet when the Lord promised blessing and led them
out of captivity through Moses, he didn’t minimize his standards. He insisted
that the main prerequisite for receiving the blessings of that covenant relationship was total and complete obedience. He was sympathetic and
compassionate toward their suffering and plight, but his standards for
obedience never wavered. Obey him and receive the blessings of the
relationship. Disobey and experience his displeasure and chastisement.
When you’re going through a rough
time in your life, it’s easy to dwell on your own plight and to forget the
demands that God insists for your daily walk. Stay focused on him. Continue to
obey his Word and understand how important obedience is in his prerequisites
for growth in grace. Jesus taught that our love for him showed itself by the
way we follow his commandments (John 14:15). With this in mind, how’s your
obedience level today? In your time of trouble, is it easy or difficult to
follow the Lord?
Simply trusting every day, trusting
through a stormy way;
Even when
my faith is small, trusting Jesus – that is all.
Singing if my way is clear, praying
if the path be drear;
If in danger, for him call, trusting Jesus – that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
trusting as the days go by;
Trusting
him whatever befall, trusting Jesus – that is all.
