Holy Spirit Inspires Obedience

Only Whole-Hearted Seekers Prevented From Wandering (Psalm 119:10)

Ken

“With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments” (Psalm 119:10 KJV). Every young person should aspire to walk in obedience to God’s Word. Nothing at all should be surprising about God’s expectations of us. None of us would expect or care for anyone approaching us half-heartedly or insincerely. Others may deal with us deceitfully, but God sets the standard for appropriate conduct. God expects from us the same sincerity of conduct, which He gives us. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19). God’s history of dealing with us has been to keep us from wandering from Him. God Only Wise has arranged His dealings with us to gain not simply our outward obedience, but our heartfelt love for Him. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not” (Luke 13:34). The Atonement revealed His heart to us. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). Yahweh has always known we need a progressive revelation of Himself, since too much at once would overpower us. “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” (1Corinthians 3:2). 

In these NT times, we have access to God’s greatest gift beyond the Atonement — the gift of His Spirit to inspire our obedience. “I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27 ). We need to believe and act like we already have everything we need to live a godly, well-pleasing life. “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2Peter 1:3). Father, You have already given us the forgiveness of our sins through Your Son’s death on the Cross, and we now have the assistance of Your Holy Spirit to live an obedient, well-pleasing life. Help us to resist the wicked one and overcome the temptation to give in to the world. Make us a walking testimony of Your grace and truth. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

God’s Presence Secures Our Obedience (Psalm 119:8)

Ken

“I will keep Thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly” (Psalm 119:8 KJV). Spoken like someone who not only understood how important obedience was but how obedience worked, i.e., God’s presence secures our obedience. Even in the beginning, Adam and Eve walked with Yahweh, but did not possess the key gift only a Resurrected Jesus could give — the gift of an indwelling Holy Spirit. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). We NT disciples have misunderstood, neglected, and taken for granted a gift greater than Christ’s purchase of our salvation on the Cross, none other than Christ’s endowment of the indwelling presence of God’s Obedience Securing Spirit. Under the Old Covenant, God’s inward presence was not part of the revealed relationship of “obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people” (Jeremiah 7:23). Under the terms of our New Covenant, “I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). Paul understood a “more excellent way” (1Corinthians 12:31) than “spiritual gifts” (12:1), which was the way of loving obedience (1Corinthians 13). Peter again added his voice, “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32). Spirit inspired obedience from those whom the Spirit inspires to obedience. Father, You have given us the gift of Your Son to save us. Your Son has given His Spirit to sanctify us in loving obedience. May we understand, respond, and continue until Jesus soon returns for us. Amen and amen.