You may recall that last week’s blog was focused on how God wants to bless our nation. It is my opinion because of the many evil and downright stupid things happening in our country that we are quickly losing God’s favor and blessing. After many years of disrespecting God and His laws, we are reaping the bitter fruit of the corrupt seeds we and our leaders have sown. While we may not have participated in the choices or actions that have led to the mess we are in, we, our children, and our children’s children will have the bitter aftertaste of the fruit disobedience has produced. The Bible clearly says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 144:15. Unless we repent and return to God and His Laws we leave Him no choice but to let us reap what we have sown. Let us pray daily for the health and strength of our nation. Pray that God will raise up godly leaders with wisdom and the courage to do God’s will.
But, let me get more personal about this matter of God’s favor or blessing. Do you want God’s blessing on your life? Of course, you do. God loves you and wants the best for your life. But do you want what He wants for your life? The problem is that we are proud and self-focused and like to usurp God’s authority and play god in our lives. Like children, we don’t want anyone, even God, telling us what to do. To have God’s favor and blessing requires surrender to His authority and obedience to His rules.
My Mom died in 2008 but her influence in my early years continues to this day. Mom had rules about respecting our parents, people in authority, and others regardless of race or religion. I remember times when she would caution me about getting “sassy” with her, crossing authority boundaries; and ” getting too big for your britches” as she called it.
She had a knack for reading my motives. Mom worked at a factory to help pay the bills and provide for the four children. Each day she came home and began cooking supper for us. For some reason, I do not remember, supper was later than usual on this particular day and I believed I was about to starve to death. When supper was on the table, Mom said a prayer, and I added ” Thank God it’s ready.”Her penetrating gray-green eyes focused on me like a laser beam. “Are you really thanking God?” That’s all she said but that was enough to elicit shame for my irreverence toward God. “No mam,” I said. Supper was not so satisfying to me that evening.
I hear people saying things like “Oh my God,” “Good God,” and “God damn,” without any seeming respect for the Holy. That boundary you did not cross with Mom and I still believe she was right. To go against her teachings and boundaries was not just breaking a meaningless rule. Her rules were from her heart and when you violated them, you disregarded her. Disobedience was personal for her.
Mom was not perfect but she was “good enough.” She loved me and did all she knew to get me on the right path and keep me there. My deep reverence and respect for her kept me from venturing far from the right way of living. I know myself well enough to realize without her I would likely have found myself on the wrong side of the law as well as the wrong side of God. I have been and continue to be greatly blessed to have this mother in my life.
This is the tenth edition of ” What is there to love about God?” So, how does my relationship with my mother relate to this question?
A good parent like my mom demonstrates some wonderful characteristics of our Heavenly Father. He provides rules and guidance that, if followed, will lead the best in life. He loves us and gives us what we need to trust in Him. His ultimate goal is that we know Him in a deeply personal way. The better we get to know His heart the more we can appreciate how He takes care of us and understand what is most important to Him. He wants the best life has to offer. Therefore, His rules are the product of a loving heart that wants to protect and guide us in what is best.
His rules recognize there is a vast difference between good and evil. He also recognizes we have a will and can make choices that will bless or harm us. If we disobey, we pay the consequences for our foolishness. If we obey from our heart, we are blessed by His pleasure in us.
What is there to love about God? He loves us and wants us to enjoy all the blessings that come to those who obey Him out of a heart of love. As a child, I obeyed my parents out of fear of what would happen if I disobeyed. As I matured, I began to understand their authority as a good thing, something to protect me from my selfishness and immaturity. When I disobeyed, I wasn’t simply breaking rules meant for my good, I was disregarding the love and sacrifice of my parents. I was rebelling against love. This was personal.
God spoke a wonderful word of approval about Jesus at his baptism by John, ” This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17.
What was it that pleased the Father? His baptism formalized Jesus’ commitment to complete what He came to earth to do, to provide forgiveness for all who would receive Him as Lord. Jesus knew what this obedience would cost Him but His love for the Father and you and me was stronger than the pain of our disbelief and the hell He would suffer for us. He obeyed.
Do you want God’s “well done” spoken over you? If so, trust His heart, that He wants the best for you, and obey His guidance. Jesus is very straightforward about the test of our love for Him, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15. Our love for Jesus produces obedience; our obedience brings His blessings.