Every joy and blessing and success I’m experiencing today (today I “celebrate” turning 55 and qualifying for the senior discount!), I owe to God’s grace and the simplicity of the Christian life expressed in the lyrics below. When I have through grace most conscientiously and consistently delighted in the Father’s will, through the provisions of Jesus, by the power of His Spirit, I have experienced more grace; “for the favor he shows, for the joy he bestows, are for them who will trust and obey.”
Not a shadow can rise,
not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away.
Not a doubt or a fear,
not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey. [Refrain]
Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay.
Not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
But we never can prove,
the delights of his love,
until all on the altar we lay.
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]
Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do,
where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.
The power and beauty of this uncomplicated truth cannot be overstated! But if I’m honest, I must admit that some of the many sorrows and losses I’ve experienced in life can also be traced to moments of disobedience, delayed obedience, or selective “obedience;” those moments of carelessness when I thought the little things didn’t matter so much until I realized again that they did. Even then, in moments of defeat, I’ve experienced God’s goodness. His goodness has led me to repentance, disciplined me, and reminded me that I remain His respected, highly regarded son. This is the beauty of the gospel, and I cling to it and try to preach it to myself every day, including on my birthday!
Perhaps I’m not the only one who needs to reflect on this simple truth today.
Father of Jesus, remind us today that the life of Jesus was one of obedience, and that the obedient life is the desired, disciplined, and enabled life of every Jesus follower. Through Jesus, amen.
