Category Archives: Obedience

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February 12, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit, Obedience, Temptation & Sin

WHO’S YOUR ROLE MODEL?

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. [Deuteronomy 18:9 (NLT)]

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [Romans 12:2 (NLT)]

2-12-15webJackie Robinson was an American hero. A man of enormous talent, good character, and tremendous courage, he broke the color barrier by being the first black player in major league baseball. This sports legend has been a role model for children of all colors. How sad that his name was recently dishonored by the actions of a few men who knowingly broke the rules of Little League baseball.

Last year, Chicago was thrilled to finally have a winning baseball team, even if it was a group of inner city youngsters from the Jackie Robinson West Little League. It was the heartwarming story of the summer as we learned about these disadvantaged kids who moved victoriously through the Little League International World Series tournament. They made it all the way to the finals before losing to South Korea. The city rallied around the team: money was raised for their travel expenses, watching parties were organized, parades were held and the team members even visited the White House. These children accomplished a great deal and no one says they didn’t play fair. The adults involved, however, cheated by placing players on the team who were unqualified because they lived outside the league’s boundaries. The team has now been stripped of its U.S. title and of all the victories that led to that championship.

This wasn’t the first Little League scandal; in fact, it’s the third time a team has had its World Series wins vacated because of similar rule infractions. Cheating and sports are becoming synonymous: doping scandals, DeflateGate, point shaving, gambling, and even using nondisabled players at the Paralympic games! It’s not just in sports either; respected newscasters are revealed as liars and we find scandals in the once respected institutions of the Secret Service, universities, government and even the church. As my Grandmother used to say, “It looks like we’re all going to Hell in a hand basket!”

The Israelites were called to live holy lives and warned not to imitate the customs of the pagan Canaanites. We are still called to live holy lives and warned not to imitate the sinful ways of the world. That’s difficult, however, when immoral, criminal and evil behavior seem to be an everyday occurrence. More important, we all know that children learn by imitating their elders. What kinds of examples are they getting in this fallen world of ours?

Father, show us how to live in such a way that we remain untouched by the evil of our world. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we follow the example of your son, Jesus Christ, and can become role models of Christian life.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. [Ephesians 5:1-2a (NLT)]

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February 4, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Obedience, Temptation & Sin

THE BEST POLICY

The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. [Proverbs 12:22 (NLT)]

Keep me from lying and being dishonest. [Proverbs 30:8a (NCV)]

Lord, help me do a bit of soul searching about honesty. If I manipulate others to get something I want, is that dishonest? What about the excuses I use on occasion to justify my behavior? Are my motives always as altruistic as I say they are? Do I ever lie to myself so I won’t have to face an unpleasant truth? What about those seemingly harmless “white lies” that are so commonplace in conversation: are they so wrong? If a little deceit is acceptable, at what point does deceit become wrong? What is the difference between a half-truth and a half-lie, when the purpose of both is to deceive another person? Lord, don’t let me to be dishonest to others; more important, don’t allow me to be dishonest to myself. Let your righteousness guide me in a life of integrity, truth and honor.

Lord, who may enter your Holy Tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? Only those who are innocent and who do what is right. Such people speak the truth from their hearts and do not tell lies about others. They do no wrong to their neighbors and do not gossip. [Psalm 15:1-3 (NCV)]

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January 22, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Obedience, Temptation & Sin, Today: Make it Count

TENDING HIS TEMPLE

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! [Psalm 139:13-14 (MSG)]

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When one gets to a certain age, a frequent sentiment heard at birthday celebrations (especially those landmark ones) is, “It’s all downhill from here.” Age, however, is certainly no excuse to stop caring for our bodies. We may not be getting any younger, but we can get better or, at least, no worse. That is, most, but not all of us, can. A woman suffering from Parkinson’s pointed out that, “It’s not easy waking every day and knowing this is the very best I’ll ever be!” Her words resonated in my heart. I thought of my friends and family who’ve had progressive diseases like Parkinson’s, MS, Alzheimer’s, and ALS. Sure, there are things that can be done to slow down the progression of their diseases but nothing, short of a miracle, is ever going to return them to health.

The woman’s words came to mind recently while taking photos before church. One overweight man said, “Wait” and hid the doughnut behind his back before turning to the camera and smiling. “I’m supposed to be on a diet,” he added as explanation. He wanted no record of his misstep, ignoring the fact his arteries and blood sugar would know, whether or not his wife ever did. What’s so bad about a doughnut? For many, they can be an occasional treat but for others, like this man, a diabetic who’s had several heart attacks and is a regular guest in the cardiac care unit, that doughnut is a major offense against his already badly damaged body. Unlike this man, I suspect that woman with Parkinson’s wouldn’t ignore any medical advice that could improve her life. She knows how precious it is.

We are amazingly and wonderfully made and, for most of us, it doesn’t have to be all downhill from here. Paul tells us our bodies are a sacred place: the temple of the Holy Spirit. It’s not just our souls that belong to God; our bodies do, too; He paid a high price for us, body and soul. While we wouldn’t damage or vandalize our churches, we tend to be much more cavalier and negligent with our bodies. We must care for God’s dwelling place as much as we would His church!

Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body. [1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (MSG)]

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November 22, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, Holy Spirit, Obedience, Temptation & Sin

A FULL EXAMINATION

Examine me, God, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I’m fit inside and out. [Psalm 26:2 (MSG)]

This last month, I’ve visited the internist, ophthalmologist, OB/GYN, dentist, and dermatologist. I’ve been tested, poked, prodded and thoroughly studied, inside and out. The most humbling experience, however, was the total body examination at the dermatologist’s office. Needless to say, I was uncomfortable having two people I don’t know peering at every inch of skin on my old body with a magnifying glass! They scrutinized every wrinkle, freckle, spot and scar, even in places where “the sun doesn’t shine.” Their inspection, however, found some things that shouldn’t be there: suspicious moles and actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous cells). These things that didn’t belong, these things that threatened my future health, were removed. I can’t say it was a pleasant experience but it was necessary. It was for my own good!

Like physicians, God also examines us closely. Unlike doctors, however, He doesn’t do it only once or twice a year; He does it continually. He knows our every thought and He scrutinizes both our strengths and weaknesses. He searches for the faults that, like pre-cancerous cells, can grow inside us and threaten our spiritual health. Like the dermatologist, He looks for the things that don’t belong in us and that need to be removed. God, however, looks way below the skin at things like prejudice, resentment, fear, anger, willfulness and pride. Unfortunately, it will take more than an hour in God’s office to remove our flaws, and often it will seem more painful. Nevertheless, it is for our own good!

Father, examine me and perform any necessary surgery on my soul. Let your Holy Spirit fill me with your guidance, strength and healing.

It’s harder to lose five negative thoughts than to lose five pounds. [From “Be the Miracle” by Regina Brett]

The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! [Revelation 3:19 (MSG)]

I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. [Jeremiah 10:23-24a (NLT)]

 

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November 7, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Obedience, Patience & Perseverance, Salvation: A New You, Trusting God

CROSSING THE RIVER

Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don’t hang your head in shame. Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don’t go one step off the right way. [Proverbs 4:25-27 (GNT)]

Obey everything that I have commanded you today. Then you will be able to cross the river and occupy the land that you are about to enter. [Deuteronomy 11:8 (GNT)]

We’d been on horseback for a week and tent camping every night. The last day had been especially challenging with the toughest terrain we’d encountered. A novice rider, I was sore, tired and unsure of myself. The only thing that got me through it was the promise of a luxurious dude ranch at the end of the trail complete with indoor plumbing, a hot shower, clean clothes and a soft bed.

We finally crested the mountain and there, in the valley below, lay the promised ranch. Between us and the ranch, however, was a fast running river. I was frightened when we were told how high the water was, yet I knew there was no turning back. As we descended into the valley, the wrangler gave us explicit instructions. He would lead the way into the shallowest part of the river. We were to follow him exactly and hold steady if the horse began to swim. Above all, we were to keep our eyes looking straight ahead. If we looked down at the rushing water, we’d likely lose our balance and fall off the horse. As the water crept up over my boots, I grew nervous but I trusted our guide’s instructions; he hadn’t steered me wrong yet. I kept reminding myself that a prize awaited me on the other side of the river.

That wrangler’s advice holds true even when we’re not on horseback. Trust your guide and obey him. Plan your steps carefully, look straight ahead, maintain your balance and keep your eye on the goal. Instead of a ranch, however, we can look forward to fellowship with Christ in the Kingdom of God!

…the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above. [Philippians 3:13b-14 (GNT)]

Sovereign Lord, I know that you have shown me only the beginning of the great and wonderful things you are going to do. There is no god in heaven or on earth who can do the mighty things that you have done! Let me cross the Jordan River, Lord, and see the fertile land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon Mountains. [Deuteronomy 3:24-25 (GNT)]

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September 30, 2014

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Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Sharing Our Faith

JESUS SAVES

9-9-14 Jesus SavesWEBFor “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” [Romans 10:13-15 (NLT)] 

For some thirty-five years, we’ve driven by the “Jesus Saves” rock. To my knowledge, in all of these years, the rock has never been defaced. Granted, it is in rural Illinois, but I still find it difficult to believe that no kids, especially on a Saturday night after consuming too much beer, have been tempted to add the words “at the 1st National Bank” to the sign. Perhaps that speaks to the virtue of small town values or maybe the farmer keeps a few bulls in the pasture below. The paint always looks as fresh as when I first saw it.

9-9-14 Jesus Saves(2)WEBRecently, while driving on a city street, I saw two women holding a sign with the words, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand – Jesus Loves you.” That sign got me thinking about the “Jesus Saves” sign. Although separated by more than a thousand miles, those women and the farmer have much in common. They both believe in Jesus and are not afraid to say so. In fact, they are reaching out to others to share His word.

We probably don’t have a boulder or billboard near at hand and most of us wouldn’t feel comfortable standing on a street corner holding a sign asking people to repent. But, I’m not so sure those two ladies were enjoying themselves in the heat and I imagine keeping that sign freshly painted has gotten a bit tiresome for the farmer. Yet, they are answering God’s call to share His Word. What can we do to join them in their efforts?

God’s plan for enlarging His kingdom is so simple – one person telling another about the Savior. Yet we’re busy and full of excuses. Just remember, someone’s eternal destiny is at stake. The joy you’ll have when you meet that person in heaven will far exceed any discomfort you felt in sharing the gospel. [Charles Stanley]