Commands or Suggestions?

Psalm 119:60 “I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”

If God has spoken, we must not delay, put off, or procrastinate. We must act. Oswald Chambers said: “Never intend to look up a word. Do it now.” He knew from experience that intentions – however well-meant – do not necessarily lead to actions. We can all relate to feeling a deep sense of conviction at certain moments and resolving to do something about it, but then drifting along and never actually enacting what the Lord had been leading us to do.

In William Booth’s last speech to the Salvation Army, explaining the immediacy and urgency of his actions, he bellowed: “While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight. While little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight. While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight. While there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight – I’ll fight to the very end!”

What has God been challenging you about this past month? What do you sense he’s asking you to do? Do it now! As both student and teacher, I’ve been told and have taught that unless we put into practice the skills being explained at the time within a week, we will never do them at all. Do you agree? Can you think of an instance in your own life where good intentions have remained just that, with no follow through at all? Here’s the thing: if we wait until we feel ready, until all our ducks are in a row, until we have time, until the circumstances are just right, we will never do anything. The danger is we end up treating his commands as mere suggestions.

Lord, forgive my disobedience, my putting off doing what you’ve asked of me, my treating your commands as mere suggestions. I choose to obey you today. Amen!