Blessed Obedience

Praise the LORD who has given peace to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us. May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors. And may these words that I have prayed in the presence of the LORD be before him constantly, day and night, so that the LORD our God may give justice to me and to his people Israel, according to each day’s needs. Then people all over the earth will know that the LORD alone is God and there is no other. And may you be completely faithful to the LORD our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today. 1 Kings 8:56-61 NLT

The power to live in Covenant with God comes from God.

All in on the deep end.

I don’t believe we are an accident or that the earths perfect orbit in relationship to the sun is random. It was planned. - I don’t believe in an evolutionary primordial pool or chance mutation over intentional creation. - He used His hands - I do believe in a God who’s bigger than we can imagine and yet close enough for us to feel, He left evidence in His creation so the searching soul could know that He is real. Exactly how He did it, I’m certainly not certain, although I have theories too, but if there was a big bang, I believe there was an infinite creator who caused it to go boom. - “In the beginning God…”

I believe Jesus is the creator of everything, that He loves me, and my life belongs to Him.

What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 NLT

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. Jeremiah 17:7 ESV

As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!” Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Luke 11:27:28 NLT - -

We only have the option to choose the door that leads to life because Jesus.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 ESV

The covenant and its conditions are carried on the shoulders of our great and gracious God.

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Psalms 37:5-7 NLT

Our covenant with God doesn’t preclude problems, but it does promise comfort. It doesn’t guarantee temporal safety or certainty but does offer Joy for the journey, hope in our hurting, purpose in our pain, and contentment in all circumstances. (Romans 8:28)