by Mark McCrary<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/BarnStalls-300x207.jpg\")
Growing up, this was the job I hated the most (and, hate is not too strong a word). Three times a week I had to clean out the feed room in the barn. That includes everything you think would be included. It was a stinky, unpleasant job. I did it because it was my chore to do. I did it because dad made me.<\/p>\n
Fast forward 30 years. Saturday afternoon I was feeding the cows for Pop. I finished his instructions and was about to leave the feed room when I noticed how dirty the floor was. I looked over and saw the shovel to the side and decided to clean the floor for him. I did the same thing that I’d done 30 years ago. It was just as unpleasant. But this time I did it not because I had to, but because I love him.<\/p>\n
Obedience to God is kind of like that. Early on in our spiritual life, we obey because we have to; we do what we’re told. Somewhere along the way, though – if you’re really growing – we start obeying because we love him. Tasks that seemed to be so difficult at one point become much more bearable. That’s why – long-term – love is a far better motivator in Christian service than fear or obligation.<\/p>\n
“If you love me, you will keep My commandments<\/em>” (John 14:15).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Mark McCrary Growing up, this was the job I hated the most (and, hate is not too strong a word). Three times a week I had to clean out the feed room in the barn. That includes everything you think would be included. It was a stinky, unpleasant job. I did it because it…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[54],"class_list":["post-54870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-obedience"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":86887,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/sincere-obedience\/","url_meta":{"origin":54870,"position":0},"title":"Sincere Obedience","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Obedience is not merely an outward act that conforms to a command. It is a bending of the heart, a surrender of the will, to the mind of God. If I regularly ran red lights because I didn't want to stop, then I am a lawbreaker at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41917,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-i-stay-with-my-husband-or-give-my-children-a-safe-and-stable-home\/","url_meta":{"origin":54870,"position":1},"title":"Should I stay with my husband or give my children a safe and stable home?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 18, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I am in need of advice. My husband and I have been married for two years. We have two sons together and I have an older son from a previous relationship. My husband is my first husband and I'm his first wife. He has been addicted to crack\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62873,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-the-seed-still-in-the-barn\/","url_meta":{"origin":54870,"position":2},"title":"Is the Seed Still in the Barn?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 22, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Haggai 2:10-19 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0After the people returned from captivity, work began in rebuilding Israel. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The people quickly laid the foundation of the temple, but the work stagnated. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The people were distracted with rebuilding their own homes and efforts to produce a living. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Over time they became apathetic. For 16\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":87454,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-counted-mean-in-romans-45\/","url_meta":{"origin":54870,"position":3},"title":"What does “counted” mean in Romans 4:5?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: \"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness\" (Romans 4:5 KJV). I'm trying to figure out what the word \"counted\" means. Does the word \"counted\" mean \"considered?\" When it says \"his faith is counted for righteousness,\" does\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34586,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thoughts-from-south-africa\/","url_meta":{"origin":54870,"position":4},"title":"Thoughts from South Africa","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Hendrik Joubert Sentry Magazine, December 1999 Convenience or Conviction? Recently I have spent much time working on helping brethren understand that as Christians we should change. We should study the Bible to find out what it is that God wants us to be. I have been thinking about some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92433,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/jesus-was-born-in-a-house-not-a-barn\/","url_meta":{"origin":54870,"position":5},"title":"Jesus Was Born in a House, Not a Barn","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Reexamining Luke's Birth Narrative by Clay Gentry The birth of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, is one of the most remarkable events in human history. It was the moment that the eternal \"Word became flesh and dwelt among us\" (John 1:14). 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