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The Motive for Obedience, October 18
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous.
1 John 5:3
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It is the keeping of the commandments of God that honors and glorifies
Him in His chosen. Wherefore every soul to whom God has given reasoning
faculties is under obligation to God to search the Word and ascertain all
that is enjoined upon us as God’s purchased possession. We should seek
to understand all that the Word requires of us.... We cannot show greater
honor to our God, whose we are by creation and redemption, than to give
evidence to the beings of heaven, to the worlds unfallen, and to fallen men,
that we diligently hearken unto all His commandments, which are the laws
that govern His kingdom.
We need to study diligently that we may gain a knowledge of the laws
of God. How can we be obedient subjects if we fail to understand the laws
that govern the kingdom of God? Then open your Bibles and search for
everything that will enlighten you in regard to the precepts of God; and
when you discern a Thus saith the Lord, ask not the opinion of men, but
whatever the cost to yourself, obey cheerfully. Then the blessing of God
will rest upon you....
Often ask prayerfully, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Am I
in any way disregarding the divine precepts? Am I in any way placing
my influence on the enemy’s side? Am I showing a careless disregard of
God’s commandments? Am I willing to yoke up with Christ, to lift the
burdens, and to be a co-laborer with Him? Am I studying out possible
excuses for neglecting obedience to a Thus saith the Lord? Am I risking the
consequences of neglect to obey the clearly revealed precepts of Jehovah
because I am not willing to come out from the world and be separate? Shall
the fear of man have a greater influence over me than the fear of God?”
Surrender yourself to God, saying, “‘Here, Lord, I give myself away;
‘tis all that I can do.’ I will not be found in disobedience to Thy law, for
that would place me in the enemy’s ranks.
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Letter 82, 1895
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