Feeling

​Jose tells his mom and dad that he doesn’t feel like going to bed because he’s not tired.  The next morning he informs them that he will not be going to school because it’s boring. Now do you think for one moment his parents are going to permit such conduct?  Not if they are caring adults.  They understand that to allow their child to act according to his subjective will would be at times not only foolish but potentially dangerous.  

If Jose grows up thinking that his action and conduct are predicated by his feeling he will undoubtedly suffer throughout his life. What company will employ a man who only comes to work when he feels like it?  What woman will stay married to a man who is unfaithful because he enjoys fooling around?  What will his kids grow up to be like if the only attention they get from their father is when he’s angry because he’s been drinking again?  

Am I suggesting that all feelings are bad?  No! Feelings run the spectrum from harmful to helpful, the key is, as with most things, balance.  Jesus said, “If you love Me you will keep My commands” (John 14:15).  Love contains feelings.  Part of the reason we obey God is because of our feelings of respect and love for Him.  Yet there are times when we must obey God when we don’t feel like it.  If someone is rude to me my gut churns to spew sarcasm. God’s word says “No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear” ( Ephesians 4:29). The smug feeling I get for uttering a witty putdown is a lame comparison to the better feeling of being kind because I obeyed God.  
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So to skip spending time in fellowship with other Christians; to ignore reading God’s Word and spending time conversing with Him; to avoid treating others right all because we don’t feel like it, is as foolish as letting Jose do whatever the heck he pleases.  If you and I blow off obeying God remember we are making a statement that our feelings take priority over His perfect will.  Rise up and do what is right!   If Jesus had lived his life by how He felt (Luke 22:42), and not according to His Father’s will, do you think He’d have died for you and me? Something to think about . . . in reveration.
 
Meditation
John 6:38-- For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
 
Inspiration
Right feeling is produced by obedience, never the reverse. Oswald Chambers in Not Knowing Where
 
©1998 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)