T H E O P H I L U S

For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

Romans 2:13

Working with children and youth for the past ten years of ministry has brought many experiences that were both encouraging, surprising, and sometimes even painful. There are always students who listen quite attentively to your teachings, but most of the time it is you who have to listen and learn. No matter how hard you preach on the topics of purity and integrity, there always seems to be students that fall into the deepest and darkest temptations – even when they know what is healthy and what is not for their lives.

There are times in life with all of us, we fish for the things we want to hear over the things we need to hear. Even though we know what is right in the eyes of God, and what is clearly written in the law, we seem to act as if it were not. We take more time to justify our actions rather than allowing the word of God to take precedence and have the Holy Spirit pour out the Lord’s grace on us. We are fearful of God’s grace rather than the consequences of sins – and that is a disturbing thought that we would even consider such a lie. Strangely, we do it anyway, and that seems to be the brokenness of our nature. But today we need to begin to go against our nature. To have obedience over rebellion.

Today, it is not merely enough for us to “listen” or “hear” God’s word. We must begin to obey him as clearly as he has written. We hear not just with our physical ears and minds, but with our hearts and souls. Our spirit ought to yearn for His righteousness.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33