DEVOTIONS

Moments with God, May 7

John 14:23 (NIV) 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”   1 John 2:3 (NIV) 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.

Years ago, when the Lord urged me to leave the classroom and move to the library, I had no idea what lay ahead.  While there, the school received its first computer.  It was connected to the Internet, but I had no idea what that meant, so the computer sat idle except for games.  Later, we were blessed with 20 computers.  Again, I had no idea how to use them.  So, I found a book that explained networks, servers, Internet, and more.  I read and studied, but I was hesitant to try anything less I make a mistake.  Time passed as I studied and as the computers sat collecting dust.  Finally, the Lord showed me that no amount of study would do any good unless I acted on what I had learned.

I remember that time very clearly.  I had studied.  I understood the basic concepts.  I was excited about what we could do with those computers when they were properly connected.  Yet, my fears kept me from putting into practice what I had learned.  That was the way I lived my spiritual life for a long time.  I read the word and attended church.  I understood what Jesus was saying and knew it was the truth.  I felt that was enough, so I did not feel the need to keep Jesus’s commands.  What if I failed?  What if I made a mistake and embarrassed myself? What if someone asked me a question I could not answer?  Those were the same concerns that kept from working with those computers.  That changed when Carol said she felt we were to start tithing.  I hesitated because we were barely making it from one month to the next.  I reluctantly agreed.  When we put His Word into practice, our lives changed!  We were blessed and never experienced financial problems again.  When I finally listened to the started applying what I had learned about computers, it opened one door after another. Lord and God’s word is living and active.  It will actively bless us IF we obey the word by living the word.  That changed my life, and it will change anyone’s life.  Studying the Word is great; living the Word is amazing!