“If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. (Leviticus 26:3, 4 ESV)
Peter T. Forsythe was right when he said, "The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master".
Think about that statement for a moment. We often hear from people who say "I want to be free to be myself and do my own thing." But is one really free when allowed to make their own choices and decisions? I think not. History proves that over and over that true freedom only comes from disciplining yourself in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I read a story one time about Arabian horses. From what I understand - these horses go through rigorous training in the deserts of the Middle East. The trainers require absolute obedience from the horses, and test them to see if they are completely trained. The final test is almost beyond the endurance of any living thing. The trainers force the horses to do without water for many days. Then he turns them loose and of course they start running toward the water, but just as they get to the edge, ready to plunge in and drink, the trainer blows his whistle. The horses who have been completely trained and who have learned perfect obedience, stop. They turn around and come pacing back to the trainer. They stand there quivering, wanting water, but they wait in perfect obedience. When the trainer is sure that he has their obedience he gives them a signal to go back to drink.
Now this may be severe but when you are on the trackless desert of Arabia and your life is entrusted to a horse, you had better have a trained obedient horse. We must accept God's training and obey Him.
We must discipline ourselves to be like those Arabian horses - that it would be about Him who is master and Lord of all.
Notice the admonition from the Book Of James... But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22 ESV)
Many are those who hear instruction and do not do them but few are the ones who both hear and walk in obdience to what they have been shown to do. If you were to read further in Levitiucs you will find strong promises from God to those who obey and you will equally find promises of God to those who disobey.
Who is your master and Lord today? I hope that it is Jesus Christ and that you're not just giving lip service. I pray that you are 100% sold out to the requirements that God has placed upon your life. I pray that your watching and listening and following all that God wants for your life. This and only this way is the means of true blessing in your life.
John 5:19 exhorts us by saying, "I see what the Father does and I do it also." May that be the goal and prayer of every Christian.
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