Thought for Today: “Obedience God Loves”
The type of obedience that makes God weep is when we say we love Him but obey His words reluctantly or out of legal or religious obligation. Obedience is then something that is cold, a technical formality, or based upon the fear of consequences. It is not obedience from a genuine desire to please God.
It’s like a teenager who obeys their parents to be home at a certain time, not because they love their parents and wish to please them, but rather because they’re afraid of the consequences like grounding, loss of phone or Internet privileges.
Instead, God wants us to obey cheerfully because we love Him, and because of this love we will do whatever it takes to please Him.
Such obedience to giving is seen in Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church.
“He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)