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Premeditated Obedience

by David A. DePra

 
     King David is known for being a man after God's own heart.
But one can hardly think through his life without recalling his
infamous sin with Bathsheba. David's memory seems a bit
stamped with that sin. Sometimes we forget that he tried to
cover it up by seeing to it that her husband, Uriah, was killed in
battle. And then there were the years of consequences David
had to endure as the result of his actions, including the death of
the baby which was born out of his sin.
     Still, David emerges as one of God's greatest instruments. He
wrote many Psalms. And his overall attitude of obedience to God
had lasting effects upon Israel. Yet, we must ask, why did David
give into the temptation regarding Bathsheba? How could he have
let this happen?
     David gave into that temptation because, in his heart, he had
not settled certain issues. Regarding Bathsheba, David had
apparently never settled the question as to what he would do if he
were tempted to commit adultery. Thus, it was still an open issue
in his heart the night he gave into temptation. He was overcome
with his sin, and payed a great price for it.
     There was something David could have done BEFORE the
night of his temptation and sin. If he would have been practicing
it, he would have been prepared for the suggestions of his flesh,
and could have overcome them. It might be called
"premeditated obedience."
     "Premeditated obedience" is a moral choice I make to
obey God IF I find myself in a particular situation. In other words,
it is a choice I make ahead of time to obey God. I get various
issues and possibilities settled NOW, in the event that I find
myself confronted with them in the future. I make a premeditated
choice to obey God and then carry out that obedience if such
temptations ever come my way.
     Had David practiced premeditated obedience he would have
had the issue of adultery settled before the night of his sin
arrived. There would have been no place for the temptation to
approach him. So it is with us -- on any number of possible
issues. We can decide NOW to obey, if we ever find ourselves
in a given situation.
     This is not psychology, or mental gymnastics. It is a matter
of facing possibilities in God, and making moral choices about
them. Actually, if the Holy Spirit is in me, He is going to
bring my attention to these possibilities all the time. God will
give me to opportunity, as it were, to "judge myself" regarding
the sin which is already in my heart, so that I will not later
allow it to motivate me to action. This will save me much
in the way of consequences for sin in this life.
     Sin is always the result of some temptation drawing forth from
us what is already in our heart. But the Holy Spirit also wants to
expose that sin, so that we can surrender it to God. This starts
by embracing the Cross, and the grace of God in Christ Jesus.
But we must then follow up our faith with works. Premeditated
obedience makes it easier to do this. I can decide ahead of
time that I am going to obey God. Perhaps God will even give
me ideas as to HOW to obey Him.
     Premeditated obedience should be a natural part of our
walk with Jesus Christ. It should be something we practice,
whether we call it by that name or not. And we have the greatest
power in all creation to help us do it: The Holy Spirit.

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