Willing and Obedient

Scripture:

Isaiah 1:19 "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land".

Observation:

Isaiah begins his writings by telling Israel that they are a rebellious nation who has turned away from God. In the midst of it once again, God shows his grace and tells them that if they are willing and obedient that they would eat from the best of the land. God wants His children to be two things: willing - having a willing heart to do whatever God asks; obedient - doing the things that God asks. It is easy to be willing, but hard to obey.

Application:

Doing the hard things is the test of our love for God. Obeying when we don't understand and even when obedience doesn't seem to be working out for us. God's ways are not our ways and His thought are not like ours. We must move from being people with good intentions who have a willing heart, to being people of action who obey His every word. God is looking for people who are not only willing, but obedient to His every word. These people will eat from the best of the land. God blesses obedience!

Prayer:

Lord, help me to walk in obedience to your word. Teach me to follow You closely. In 2011 I want to me and my family to eat from the best of the land. Help me to hear Your voice clearly and walk with You completely. Help me to not only be willing, but obedient in every area, when it feels good and when it doesn't.

Jeff