How to persevere in obedience

The great poet and educator, Archibald Rutledge, wrote about how he once met a man whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken, the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he worked outdoors, he often took his dog with him. That morning, he left the animal in a clearing and gave him a command to stay and watch his lunch bucket while he went into the forest.

His faithful friend understood, and that's exactly what he did. So when a fire started in the woods and soon spread to the spot where the dog had been left, the faithful companion didn't move. He stayed right where he was, in perfect obedience to his master's word.

When it comes to obedience to God, do you cower down when things heat up? Or do you, like that dog, endure faithfully, even if it means suffering, or even death?

In this life, the Bible never gives us the promise of an easy path. There are times when staying true to your Master will even cause you to encounter hard times. Yet through them all, we're given the simple promise that no matter what happens, God is with us.

Maybe today, you know God is asking you to follow Him in a certain way that will lead to hardship. If so, show obedience to God by following Him even if it means tough times. When you do, you can be sure that the reward you'll receive will far outweigh any inconvenience you face!