Bobby’s Daddy Used to Say . . .
When Ray and I saw Bobby at the party the other day, Ray told him about a recent conversation with a mutual friend. The friend had quoted Bobby’s daddy. That other conversation was about one of human beings’ favorite subjects: the weather, specifically how hot it has been around here. Our mutual friend said that Bobby’s daddy used to say, “I’ve lived 90 years and it gets hot about this time every year.”
Yep. He’s right. The weather is the weather. I guess it just gives us something we all have in common to talk about. My daddy had a weather saying, too: “It’s kind of weatherish.”
The conversation naturally went to Bobby’s daddy, whom Ray and I never knew. Bobby talked about his daddy’s faithful leadership in the church where he grew up. Bobby said that his dad thought highly of the song, “Trust and Obey.” “That sums it up pretty well,” he said.
I agree. I have had the same thought many times. Trust and obey. That is a great three-word summary of what we must teach our children. It is also a great summary of how Jesus lived His life.
The 1887 lyrics of “Trust and Obey,” by John H. Sammis illustrate the meaning behind those three profound words:
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of his word,
What a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil he doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
But we never can prove
The delights of his love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor he shows,
For the joy he bestows,
Are for those who will trust and obey. [Refrain]
Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at his feet,
Or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
What he says we will do,
Where he sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]
I am convicted and convinced of the truth of Sammis’ words: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus.” That’s exactly what I want for every person throughout all our generations.
The apostle John described trusting and obeying in 1 John.
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God,
and whoever loves the Father
loves the child born of Him.
By this we know that we love the children of God,
when we love God and observe His commandments.
For this is the love of God,
that we keep His commandments;
and His commandments are not burdensome.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world;
and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
1 John 5:1-4
Made tears come to my eyes. That was my dad’s favorite song, too. He died 25 years ago. He had a heart transplant, got cancer, and had 10+ surgeries in his face (experimental). He always trusted God. He would always tell me, “Someone else out there has it worse than I do.” And, he always hoped whatever he went through might help the next person.
TRUST and OBEY
Thank you for sharing this.