Joy in Obedience to God

For years I searched for joy in my life. I wanted to learn how to be content in the moment, no matter what was going on around me. I hated that I was moving from event to event, anticipating that this would be the moment that made my life complete. Finally, I discovered my joy was in obedience to God. It was not a circumstance but a heart's desire.

Today as I was reading Exodus 17, verse one kind of struck me funny. "Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink." If you don't remember, this is the rock of Horeb's story. What I noticed is that they were moving in obedience to God but still had no joy. So I had to question my own conclusion and ask why it was different.
Obedience without love is drudgery.
You can be in technical obedience with God's word but absolutely hate what you are doing because your heart has another love. Today as we celebrate the joy that was born in a manger, ask yourself, do I know Him? Do I love Him? Joy may be eluding you because your heart has become caught between two loves. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart. Today is the perfect day to start seeking God and discard the pretense. The joy you will find is eternally fulfilling.

Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash

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