Obey God Always by J. N. Hallock, D. D.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 19, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 32.

Obey God Always.

By J. N. Hallock, D. D.

How DIFFICULT it is for the natural heart to realize, or believe, that it is for its own good always to obey God in everything! We are strongly inclined to think that obedience to our own conceptions of what is right and proper is good for us—indeed, is really best for us. There are some things which God commands us to do that we readily assent to as being for our good. But there are other things which we hesitate to accept as being really essential to our good. We incline to pursue an eclectic course. We choose that which seems to promise us good, and those things which appear inconvenient and unnecessary, we discard.

Obedience to some of God's commands appears to involve too much trouble to be for our certain good. It may lead us to heavy cross-bearing and painful peril and deep disappointment and immense personal discomfort; and so we demur and debate the chances of possible good to ourselves. But our thoughts and ways are always wrong, and, therefore, productive of harm to us if they do not strictly conform to the thoughts and ways of God.

There is no safety outside of following the commands of God. Human expediency is not to usurp the place of the Divine counsel and command. Whatever God tells us to do, and we do in the spirit and manner which he requires, will result in our good always. It may not always seem so to us at first. Indeed, it may appear to be for our ill, instead of good; but God, who sees the end from the beginning, knows what is for our good, and commands nothing that is not for our good. The true Christian will try to remember this and obey.

—J. N. Hallock, D. D.