Obedience and Purpose

“Here, then, is the real problem of our negligence.
We fail in our duty to study God's Word
not so much because it is difficult to understand,
not so much because it is dull and boring,
but because it is work.
Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion.
Our problem is that we are lazy.”
R. C. Sproul


Obedience and Purpose

“Neither for these alone do I pray
[it is not for their sake only that I make this request],
but also for all those who will ever come to believe in
(trust in, cling to, rely on)
Me through their word and teaching,
That they all may be one,
[just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,
that they also may be one in Us,
so that the world may believe and be convinced
that You have sent Me.
I have given to them the glory and honor
which You have given Me,
that they may be one [even] as We are one:
I in them and You in Me,
in order that they may become one and perfectly united,
that the world may know and [definitely] recognize
that You sent Me and that You have loved them
[even] as You have loved Me.”
John 17:20-23 Amplified Bible (my emphasis bold)

As the children of Israel crossed over into the promised-land

communion with them was the focus of God’s heart.

Such an intimate communion is God’s greatest desire for us as well.

The Cross not only broke the power of sin and death,

but it brought mankind back into purposeful communion with God,

that we might be as the Lord said, be

“one, just as You, Father, are one in Me and I in You.”

“If a person [really] loves Me,
he will keep My word [obey My teaching];
and My Father will love him,
and We will come to him
and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.”
John 14:23 Amplified Bible (my emphasis bold)

Obedience and purpose come from our intimacy with God.

Once His Laws are written on our hearts

our obedience flows out of our reverence to Him.

God desires to be present in every experience of our lives,

which is why intimacy with Him is an essential part of our Christian walk.

It is the presence of God in our lives that distinguishes us from all other people.
Moses understood this clearly-

“For by what shall it be known
that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight?
Is it not in Your going with us
so that we are distinguished,
I and Your people,
from all the other people upon the face of the earth?
Exodus 33:16 Amplified Bible (my emphasis bold)

It is in this realization; that we are loved by God,

and that He desires our fellowship, that we realize our true purpose and worth.

May we seek God diligently, that he might give us understanding
that we might keep His laws and obey Him with all our hearts.

30

fkj