Numbers 13:27:28 – “Thus they recounted to him and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. ²⁸ Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.”

As I contemplated today’s devotional message, the overriding theme was implicit and explicit obedience. Unhesitating obedience!  Numbers 13 gives us the account of the 12 forward scouts who conducted a reconnaissance mission in Canaan, the Land of Promise.
They saw the land and its fruitfulness and beauty, but they also saw the fortifications, giants, Nephilim, and their own inability (in their minds). They let their view become dominant over God’s promise.

Their expression was Nevertheless or But…  Too often, we let our “buts” get in the way. Rather than “But we can’t, we need to be like Joshua & Caleb, BUT GOD…” There are good “buts” and bad “buts.”

Numbers 20 is the account of Moses losing the privilege of bringing them into the place of promise.  He acted out of human frustration rather than explicit obedience.  The rock Paul tells us was Christ and followed them in their journey. God said to speak to the rock (symbolic of prayer).

In his frustration, Moses resorted to what he had done and, in anger, struck the rock twice. The smitten rock only needed to be prayed to, not crucified again. His failure to explicitly obey disqualified him from the blessings of seeing the fulfillment of the promise.

We are people of the New Covenant and have the Promise alive in us.   We, too, face problems and need God’s provision. Our Rock has sent us another comforter to empower us to overcome.   We have the gifts of the Spirit to equip us. We have the love of God to enable and identify us. Our explicit and instant obedience defines and determines the measure of our success.

Obedience flows from one of two foundations: fear or Love. Our obedience as believers is either out of love or reveals our immaturity. 1 Corinthians 12:2 reminds us of our greatest need and mission—”Learn to Love.”  We are cells in the Body of Christ, and what affects others affects us. It also reveals whether we have learned to love and the level of our obedience.

1 Corinthians 12:26 is revelatory. “Whatever happens to one member happens to ALL. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices.” Is that descriptive of us? It is evidence of our level of grace and maturity.

• Obedience out of love takes no consideration of ourselves but the Body and Him.
• Obedience out of love expresses faith and complete trust.
• Obedience out of love releases the Spirit of God to bring the fullness of God to us and release His Promises through us.

Remember that you are Victorious! You have the Promises! You live in this world, but you are not unaffected by it; you affect it. May today be a day of rich blessings and God’s presence for you!