Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Charles Spurgeon
The Joy of Obedience
There is a sense of joy in obeying God. It is like you’ve been set free to obey God and you love to please the Father for all that He has done for you, particularly through the gift of His own Son’s life. We can be the most joyful of givers. But Jesus said, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13). Samuel the prophet asked evil King Saul, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).
The Joy of Our Calling
We ought to rejoice that we’ve been spared from the wrath of God, which should compel us to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are presently cut off from God by their sins (Isaiah 59:2). What joy there is in looking forward to an eternal kingdom that shall never perish and being with citizens of the kingdom of heaven that we can fellowship with for all time. For this reason, we ought to be the most joyful people on the planet.
The Joy of Eternity
It is said that there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner than a hundred straying or lost sheep. Specifically, Jesus said, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7) and that “there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). Don’t you want to share that joy with God? There are fewer things in the Christian’s life than bringing souls into the kingdom.
Conclusion
Good intentions never helped anyone. It is obedience to God’s calling us to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-2), the joy of our calling, and the joy of an eternity where we will forever be in the presence of the Lord. Why not try to take as many souls that God will call to heaven as you possibly can? As with a woman of God, it takes a man of God with the Word of God and the Spirit of God to make children of God for the glory of God.
