I’m Allowed
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalm 33:8 NIV
When my youngest grandson does not want to do something I would like for him to do, he responds with: “I’m not allowed to do that!” Quickly, I remind him he IS allowed to obey his grandmother because she loves him and would not ask him to do anything harmful.
As believers, God gives us the same opportunities. He allows us to obey him.
Through his Word and his Spirit, He lovingly counsels us and instructs us. Over and over in his Word, He mentions loving himself and others. He not only allows us to do it, but He also encourages us to do so.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mark 12:30-31 NIV
Loving God? Not too difficult. His compassion, kindness, trustworthiness makes him easy to love.
Loving others? Good natured people inspire love. On the other hand, some people are not quite that easy. Cranky, difficult people -- God, do we love them? His answer: “Yes, you are allowed.” Not something we look forward to doing, but can still provide such blessing.
God gives us the privilege of loving others. Loving God gives us the inspiration to do the right thing without even thinking about it. No matter the disposition of the people he brings into our lives, we can love them with the love of God just as we hope they will love us as well. God gives others the privilege of loving us. We are allowed to accept their love.
God instructs us and teaches us the way we should go because of his love for us. He then allows us to have the blessing when we obey.
Father, thank you for your love. You instruct us lovingly because you love us. As your children we love you and want to obey you. We’re allowed.
Susan Partida
