TODAY, NO MATTER WHAT….WE CAN !!!
Today Is….a new day.
Today is….a new day we will obey the speed limit as we drive….because after all, it is a law of the land & designed to keep us safe.
Today is….a new day we will worship only God, and we will not place any decision, any habit, any desire, any object, any person, or ANYTHING in front of our worship of God….because after all, it is the law of God & designed to keep us whole.
Today is….a new day we will not treat anyone unkind, through our speech, through our thoughts, or through our actions and reactions….because after all, it is the Golden Rule, the way we would want others to treat us.
Today IS……A New Day….We Will Obey.
Today is…..a new day….referred to as the third day of the week (if you see Sunday as the first day of the week as I do). So, on this third day of the week, we have kept the 1st and 2nd commandments, and (now today, on this “new” day,) we are required to keep the 3rd commandment—-as we progress through our week of seven days.
Right?
NO, NOT RIGHT….Because if we follow that pattern, we will NEVER progress past the 7th commandment (as recorded in Exodus and Deuteronomy) Because we will run out of days.
NOR will we ever get to the obedience of the two commandments that Jesus gave us in the New Testament, the two commandments that are called “foremost” (Mark 12: 28-31).
IF WE ONLY KEEP ONE COMMANDMENT PER DAY DURING OUR WHOLE WEEK OF DAYS.
It’s a crazy thought, we know. This is clearly NOT how we are to live in our obedience to our LORD, adding one more commandment to each calendar day?
NO, most assuredly NOT.
We could go on and on with the “laws” & “commandments,” & “rules” we PLAN & HOPE & WILL STRIVE to keep on this day,……BUT if we only keep these because they are required….is that ever the right reason for obedience?
Are we following ritualistic rules of habit and tradition?
OR
Are we obeying God because our heart belongs to Him?
We are given the Individual Life-Changing Decision to accept Jesus Christ as our LORD, to accept the salvation God provides each one of us. &
When we keep God’s laws and commandments….Because of our love for God, and Because of our love for others, and Because of our love for ourself…..THEN & ONLY THEN are we keeping God’s commandments for the right reason.
As we keep God’s laws and commandments, we are given choices, opportunities, and daily decisions to make as we obey ALL of God’s laws.
That day (many years ago)….on that new today….when God spoke to Moses, the words were clear and precise. Nothing has changed, even though many decades and centuries have passed by since God’s words were recorded. Time does not make the commandments void. NO, NOT AT ALL.
“All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your forefathers….
(Deuteronomy 8:1)
“Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him….”
(Deuteronomy 8:6)
“One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him [Jesus Christ], “What commandment is the foremost of all?”
(Mark 12: 28-31)
Jesus answered, “The foremost is, HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;
AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.”
The second is this, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” There is no other commandment greater than these.”
As written a few lines earlier, we have been given the Individual Life-Changing Decision to accept Jesus Christ as our LORD, to accept the salvation God provides each person, & Then we are given daily choices, daily opportunities, and daily decisions…..as we obey ALL of God’s laws.
If we really are serious about following God, then we must watch for God’s miracles that He will perform today, & we must walk in obedience to God our Father, & we must let go of those hindrances that weigh us down (from our past, from our yesterday) and we must begin anew TODAY as we keep our eyes fully focused upon God as we place our trust in Him.
Yes, no matter what comes, we can trust God.
Yes, no matter what, we can allow God to do some “holy-housekeeping” inside our hearts so our sins do not hinder our spiritual growth.
Yes, no matter what, we can allow God to eliminate all distractions from our lives so He can reveal to us how we can become more like the image of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
Yes, no matter what, let us not be slow to our repentance, slow to action, or slow to our obedience to God.
NO MATTER WHAT…WE CAN LET GO AND LET GOD HAVE HIS WAY WITH US….TODAY.