Good morning, everyone, and welcome back to another mornings with the masters where we

devote ourselves to the Lord, Ailey with you. Good morning, you guys. It's currently monsooning

here. So if you can hear some nice rainy ASMR in the background. It sounds super nice to us,

but yeah, I mean, honestly, it sounds great, and it looks crazy outside, but it's kind of nice.

I like it. Anyways, we're picking back up a new morning mercy, so Tori just can take it from here.

Yes, got it. Let's do it. Today's original, it says this.

For the believer, obedience is not a pain, but a joy. Each act of obedience celebrates the grace

that motivates and empowers it. I remember my brother Ted saying it to me, but I didn't realize how

right he was. Obedience is its own reward. It is hard to overestimate the grace that motivates

each act of obedience in your life and in mine. Sinners tend not to esteem authority.

Sinners like to write their own rules. Sinners are good at convincing themselves that their wrongs

are not that wrong. Sinners tend to believe in their own autonomy. Sinners tend to think that

they're wiser than they are. Sinners tend to have a moral code that is formed more by their

desires than by God's law. Sinners tend to think that they don't need what they don't desire.

Sinners tend to be self-focused and self-excusing. Sinners tend to crave what God has prohibited.

Sinners tend to opt for short-term pleasure over long-term gain. Sinners tend to rebel rather than

submit because of all of the above statements. Because all of the above statements are true,

it is a miracle of amazing grace that any of us ever choose to obey God. It is even more

a miracle that we can find joy in obeying someone whom we cannot see here or touch. It is a

wonder of transforming grace that the heart of a self-focused human being can abandon the pursuit

of his own little kingdom to give itself to serve the purposes of the kingdom of another.

Anytime we desire, in word, thought, or action, to do what pleases God, we are being rescued,

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