July 29 They Came Early

Luke 21:37-38 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
 
HERE is a blessed account of God’s people drawing near to him. The Holy Spirit was empowering hearts and minds to be witnesses of the Word. Following are some scriptures regarding the benefits of hearing and obeying God:
    Ezekiel 36:27-32 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. 30 I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!
    Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my teaching is easy and my burden is light.
    2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 
    John 15:10-11 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 
    Knowing and obeying God’s Word leads us to God, into his eternal rest and joy at the end of our earthly life’s journey. But see, too, how there is the promise of physical assurance as we obey God’s laws. This is not to say that we read God’s Word, so we will  have earthly possessions. But it is to say God’s Word gives us earthly comfort. Think how different our families, our churches, our nations and our world would be if we lived as if God’s Word mattered. What would happen if we were ashamed of our sins and truly believed God’s word is useful for our lives?
    Physical comfort and blessings, though, are not an absolute. Persecution, poverty and imprisonment can victimize faithful Christians. Yet, spiritual blessings are absolute. When we journey more deeply into Jesus, we will experience the intimate presence of our holy, merciful and loving God. Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  
    Go early each morning to meet Jesus.
 
Prayer: I pray, Lord, that I will delight in hearing your word to meditate on your teaching day and night. (from Psalm 1:1) Amen.