30 Day Course on Faith - Day 14

Faith and Obedience

If ye love me, keep my commandments." ~John 14:15

Obedience brings blessings.  In 2 Kings 5 we learn about a man named Naaman, a Syrian, who was a brave man and the captain of his king's army.  Naaman had leprosy, a skin disease that had no cure.  His wife's Israelite maid told her about a prophet in Israel who could heal Naaman.

Naaman went to see Elisha, the prophet.  When Elisha told Naaman that he would be healed if he washed seven times in the Jordan River, Naaman was angry.  He said that there were better rivers in Syria - why couldn't he just wash in those rivers?  Naaman decided not to do what Elisha had counseled.

But Naaman's servants asked him why.  If he would have done something difficult to be healed, why not do something simple? Naaman repented and obeyed Elisha's instructions, and he was cured!

As we obey God's commandments, not only do we show our love for Him, but we also receive blessings for our obedience.  Those blessings we receive in turn help increase our faith!

Obedience also leads to freedom.  As we make good choices, we remain free to make more and more choices...

David O. McKay tells a story about his horse Dandy that illustrates this:

     Under the saddle he was as willing, responsive, and cooperative as a horse
     could be... But Dandy resented restraint. He hated being tied up and would
     nibble at the rope until he was free.  Then he would proceed to untie the
     other horses' ropes.  One day someone left the gate unwired.  Detecting this,
     Dandy unlatched it and took another horse with him.  They went to an old
     house used for storage and pushed open the door.

     They found a sack of grain!  It seemed to be such a great find, but what they
     didn't know is that the grain was bait for rodents.  Within a few minutes of
     consuming the poisonous grain, Dandy and the other horse were in spasmodic
     pain, and shortly afterwards they both died.

Too often we are like Dandy... We complain about God's commandments and feel they are too restrictive.  Our curiosity may lead us to places where we shouldn't go... And we may discover what may appear to be a fortunate bag of grain, but is in reality a bag of poison that will cause us great harm.

We need to put our trust in God and be obedient to him.  As we receive the blessings for obedience, our faith increases.  As our faith in God increases, we are assured that obeying his commandments will bring us the greatest peace and happiness.

Daily Challenge: Every day for 30 days in a row, I want you to say the following out loud at least 10 times each day!!!  Be sure to say it cheerfully and enthusiastically!  This scripture is found in Philippians 4:13:

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

You've now completed this challenge 14 days in a row! 
Be sure to congratulate yourself for a job well done!