Obeying God

Obeying God “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:18 The people of Israel have been a stubborn people, having been chosen by God, but repeatedly resisting following and obeying God’s commands. They have been protected and rescued many times by the compassion of God, but have also been humiliated and defeated often when they turned their eyes from God. The scripture above puts into context the promise that God gave them if they would simply follow His commandments. However they did not learn from their mistakes and continued their inconsistent pattern and behavior. They remind me of a Charlie Brown story where he and Lucy were sailing on a cruise ship. Lucy, the great philosopher that she is, said, “You know, Charlie Brown life is like a cruise ship. Some people take their deck chairs to the back of the ship to see where they have been. And some people take their deck chairs to the front of the ship to see where they are going.” What kind of person are you, Charlie Brown?” He pauses, and then says, “I’m the kind of person who can’t get my deck chair open.” Unfortunately so many people today are like Charlie Brown, as they have not looked at the past to see what happens when they do not obey God’s commands. They also have not looked forward to know what could happen when they believe and trust in God and obey His commands. They are still trying to get their deck chairs open, and therefore are still adrift, not knowing which way to go. I would advise each of you to look at your past and learn from it, and then change your ways and look to the future and get right with God. Isaiah 51:3 “But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.” My Daily Devotional Volume III March 11 Robert William Brock, Jr.