04/11/2013 - PROOF OF LOVE TO THE LORD

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Make vows to the LORD your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared.

Psalm 76:11

Many people live far from God in spite of always being in church. Only those who believe in His Word and base their actions on what He says can stay by His side. For them, life is different from what it is to other people: they are never seen moaning and groaning about a situation or cursing someone; on the contrary: they are always happy. Those who stand in the Lord conduct themselves that way.

Those who have the Most High in their lives are known by the joy on their faces and their success in faith. For them there are no such a things as hard times or crisis because they can draw water from the Rock. What they eat or wear is provided by the One who is the actual provider of good things. That is how the Lord would like all His children to live, but many have not yet awakened to this fact.

A vow is a holy institution. When God says it is better not to make a vow, it is because of those who vow but do not pay (Deuteronomy 23:21-22). These people do not measure the consequences of their actions and neither do they realize that God is not one of their peers who they are used to playing tricks on. But when God says you should pay your vows without delay it should not be taken as a discouragement to make a vow; the Lord is just showing how important it is.

By addressing this issue seriously, the Bible says the Father wants us to make promises to Him just as He has made to us. The Lord fulfills what He promises and therefore He requires us to fulfill whatever we promise to Him. So, whenever you feel it in your heart to make promises to God, do it; but do not even consider failing to honor what you promise to the Most High, for He will not hold you guiltless. Everything related to God must be taken seriously.

Who doesn’t like to receive a gift, even if it is just a souvenir? In this respect, our Father is no different. He says you should bring Him gifts. When we love someone, we always want to give something to him or her. Because we love the Lord it is no wonder the Holy Spirit compels us to bring gifts to our God, and as a result we will be rewarded with His magnificent gifts.

Because God is awesome, He does things that surprise us. If you get carried away by the Spirit of the Lord, you will receive the revelation of what He has prepared for you. So, when making a vow, do it according to the faith you have been given. If your attitude is holy and your heart is moved by faith, He will do everything to honor the trust you have put in Him.

In Christ with love,

R. R. Soares