Obedience From The Heart

A few years back, I read about a Colorado Springs woman who sat in her car in front of an elementary school, pointing a hair dryer out her window at passing vehicles. Many drivers mistook the hand-held dryer for a radar gun and slowed down. The speed limit of 15 mph was posted in the school zone, but it took the threat of punishment to get drivers to obey the law.

This story is a sobering example for us all, even in our relationship with God. Instead of an inner willingness to follow God, it may take the force of difficult circumstances to turn us toward Him. But that’s not how our heavenly Father wants it to be.

The Lord has always longed for His people to obey Him from their hearts (Romans 6:17; Psalm 119:10-11; cf. Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:6-9).

When the Israelites were poised to enter into Canaan, Moses reviewed the Ten Commandments and then told them God’s response to their intention to keep His law: “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29).

Beloved, God doesn’t want us to obey Him just because we’re afraid of punishment. He longs for loving obedience that comes from our hearts (Romans 6:17).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets