Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Obedience Brings Joy

Do you remember the old sitcom, "All in the Family?" When annoyed about something or someone, Archie Bunker would look up at the ceiling and blame God for his trials. Everyone would laugh about it, but not my mother. She felt  Archie was using God's name in vain and making a mockery of her faith. Needless to say, she didn't allow us to watch show either.

Some people may snicker and say my mother was oversensitive, but if God's Spirit within her was grieved by this program, she did the right thing by turning it off. It didn't matter that other Christians watched the show, laughed about the comedy, and talked about it with each other. I don't remember hearing my mother judging others for not sharing her views. She just simply obeyed what she felt God wanted her to do.

Interestingly enough, my mother's measure of right and wrong and of the application of God's Word has in many ways become my measure too. Unfortunately, there have been times in my life when I chose to ignore my conscience and did what I wanted to instead. However, that was always followed by a lack of the sense of God's nearness. I hated the feeling of knowing I had grieved God's Spirit within me. Disobedience to the nudging of the Holy Spirit is just not worth it. It drains your life of joy and leaves you feeling empty.

"You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." Psalm 45:7

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