2 Corinthians 5:6-10 – So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.  Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

Be honest. Have we ever woken up on a Sunday morning, and didn’t feel like going to church?  What about a midweek prayer meeting, a weekly Bible study, or an invitation from another Christian to get together for a time of prayer or in the Word?

Let’s go back to Sunday morning.  Ever experience a strong temptation to make a self-justifying excuse not to attend?  Maybe even whispering, “I don’t feel good. I need to rest” but you knew that if it was Monday morning, you would be up and out to work. Or what about this. You feel bad enough to justify missing church, but well enough to attend a family event or a social gathering you will thoroughly enjoy.

Every Christian at times feels what Jesus said, “Watch and pray that you may not enter temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

It is in those weak moments and the temptation high to “cut corners” on our obedience, like missing church, we get a clear assessment of or lack of spiritual maturity.  Give into our weak flesh and allow emotions to rule us, and we are spiritual infants despite what we think.  And right now, should we feel defensive after reading my last statement, we might be making excuses for our disobedience which never gets a pass from our Lord.

In today’s scripture, the Apostle Paul tells us how the Christian life is lived from start to finish – by faith, not feelings, by obedience not emotions.  Always remember the Christian life is a privilege and responsibility that at times requires us to exercise self-discipline, self-control, and self-denial despite our feelings. Obedience does not wait for emotions to move us.  We obey the Lord by doing His commands regardless of our feelings.

So what do we do when it comes to obedience to the Lord when we don’t feel like it?  Two things.  First, look on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).  Aren’t we glad He didn’t wait to “feel good” in obeying His Father?  If He did, we have no salvation.  Read the Gospel accounts of His last days on earth to include the agony of Gethsemane and the cross and marvel over the Godman obeying His Father by the exercise of obedience despite the emotional turmoil within Him.

Second thing to do when our desire for obedience is low is to remember the chief way to express love to God is not emotional but obeying His commands.  Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will obey My commands” (John 14:15). Make loving God our highest priority in life and watch how our emotions learn to become subordinate to our wills, not the opposite. May God help us to do right according to Him regardless of our emotions.

PRAYER: “Lord, I praise You for the gift of faith and power to exercise that gift despite my weak flesh.”

QUOTE: “Fatih obeys God’s Word out of love not based on some feeling or emotion.”