Obedience

Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

Psalm 34:12-14

EVERYONE ON EARTH might answer the question “What do you most want?” with “To live a long, happy, and fulfilling life.” But how do we do such a thing? Where do we get the wisdom to actually experience such a life?

To be sure, God warns all Christians that when we truly seek to live out Christian values and truth in the world, we will be persecuted (see 2 Timothy 3:12). We’re in the middle of a war between good and evil, God’s values and truth versus the lies of the devil.

God promises to bless us if we obey his laws. So what should we do to take hold of that kind of abundant life? The passage from Psalm 34 offers us several lines of action: one, don’t speak evil words, about others or about God. Two, don’t tell lies. Simply refuse to fudge on the truth about anything and everything. Three, refuse to do evil, even if it costs you. Four, do good, everywhere you can. Five, try to find a peaceful solution in any situation. And six, work at maintaining such peace.

It’s a rather amazing formula, isn’t it? But it’s not really a formula. It’s more a plan of action, a personal MO, a mission statement. Why not make it yours by self-examination, starting today, in every relationship you have?