How many of us read our Bibles literally, looking for the privilege of honouring the Lord in additional ways as we search for other things to obey in the Scriptures? Consider the narrative found in 1 Chronicles Chapter 28. Maybe it went something like this:

“Do you think the King will be able to make it today? Age definitely takes its toll. It must be hard on him to either be in bed or in a chair. He won’t last much longer.”

Hundreds of dignitaries had gathered to hear King David’s last words. Tribal leaders, army commanders, generals and captains, administrators of royal assets, palace officials, decorated warriors and other celebrated guests assembled for what everyone probably knew would be the last words of the King. You could hear a pin drop as all eyes were focused on the frail King propped up on his royal chair.

The ceremony was about to begin. Would the King address them from the chair or try to stand? Sure enough, he mustered up the strength and slowly lifted himself out of the chair with all the determination he could find. Every word he uttered would be significant.

First, King David explained to all the people that he had wanted to be the King who built a permanent house of worship for the Lord. Instead, it would be his son Solomon who would have that honour.

“Shhhh – what’s he saying now? Listen carefully. He’s speaking to all of us.”

“Now therefore in the sight of all Israel and in the audience of our God KEEP and SEEK for ALL the commandments of the Lord your God that you may possess this good land and leave it to your children after you forever.” 1 Chronicles 28:8

It’s not enough to keep and obey what we have been taught from the Word of God. That’s the bare minimum. King David added another requirement: Seek the commandments of the Lord so that you might discover more things to obey. When I read my Bible each day, I should be looking for new things to obey – a truth I’ve never noticed before or in the past ignored or dismissed as non-essential. 

"Lord, I'm opening your Word just now. Show me something in this chapter that affects my life and help me to surrender and start putting it into practice."

But so many of us think the fewer commandments there are to obey, the fewer restrictions placed on our lives, and the fewer the obligations we have to honour, the happier we will be. Who wants to be all bound up and hemmed in by a bunch of commandments?

Are you ready for this? We need to rethink what we think about the commandments of the Lord. The most significant expression of love and devotion is surrendering our will to His – to happily obey everything He wants us to do. Not to obey is not to love Him. We can’t love Him and not obey Him.

If a guy truly loves a girl, he will do everything he can to make her happy. He will seek for new ways to bring her happiness. He will study her and search for clues as to what else will make her happy.

The Apostle John, distinguished for his intimacy with Christ, made some eye-opening comments about commandments:

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.”…  “This is the love of God that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 2:3-4; 5:3.

Keep what you already know to be the truth, and keep seeking for more truths to obey. The more we obey, the greater our joy will be and the more intimate our relationship with the Lord will become.