Love God -> Obey Him

Bible reading Hebrews 12
Focus verse: "Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us."  1 John 3:24

When we first trusted Christ as our savior, we became His children.  We didn't do anything to deserve it and we can't earn our own way to Him.  He loved us, forgave our sins and accepted us into His family.  Our faith in God and our love for Him leads us to desire obedience.  When we sin, and we all have, the Holy Spirit convicts us of that sin and we have the opportunity to repent.  When we continue in sin, we are not loving God, but despising His commands.  God will not allow his child to continue in sin without consequence.  He will discipline, remove blessings and bring you to your knees before Him out of His great love for you.  Do not resist God's discipline, but allow yourself to be humble before God and repent to walk in obedience and in fellowship with Him.

Faith leads to obedience.  Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth"   As a child of God, will you be on your knees willingly or will you be driven to your knees with God's discipline?   

I am praying for a humble heart to willingly yield to Him.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

PS. I am not saying that all suffering is because of disobedience, though sometimes it is.  One thing for sure is that God always can use it for good and His Glory.