Category Archives: Obedience

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 7, 2014

Posted under

God's Word: The Bible, Obedience, Salvation: A New You

LET’S NOT BLOW IT!

Teach me, O Lord, how to live by your laws, and I will obey them to the end. [Psalm 119:33 (GW)]

Just because I knew the rules at my boarding school doesn’t necessarily mean I obeyed them. After all, I was a rebellious teen in the 60s. Smoking was strictly forbidden and immediate expulsion was the punishment for that offense. In spite of knowing that, I’d stashed some cigarettes in my luggage when I returned to school one September. A friend and I snuck off to enjoy some furtive puffs and we narrowly escaped being caught. As we anxiously hid in a closet, all I could think of was the shame of being sent home before classes had even begun. Worse than my shame, however, would be my father’s disappointment in me. He’d made a financial sacrifice so I could attend this special school and, for a moment of rebellion, I nearly blew an amazing opportunity! Fortunately, we managed to escape detection. Once safe, I tossed the cigarettes and, from then on, was a model student (at least most of the time).

As an adult, I now think about the sacrifice our Father in Heaven made for our salvation. He gave His only Son to pay for our sins; that’s a heavy price to pay for his rebellious children. Think of His disappointment if we squander this gift. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity; I’m not about to blow it. How about you?

God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. [John 3:16-17 (GW]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

June 6, 2014

Posted under

God's Word: The Bible, Obedience

THE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE

The Lord’s laws are right. They make people happy. The Lord’s commands are good. They show the right way to live. [Psalm 19:8 (ERV)]

In my high school years, I attended a private boarding school. Co-ed and highly competitive, there were strict guidelines for student behavior. Knowing the school’s set of rules, however, actually made my life easier. A clear-cut code of conduct meant I always knew what was acceptable and what wasn’t and I understood the consequences of misconduct. Guesswork was taken out of my life; I always knew where I was expected to be, when I was to be there and what was required of me. I understood that excuses for failure to follow the rules or complete my assignments would not be tolerated. I knew that I was responsible for my behavior.

Like a school rulebook, God’s laws make our life simpler. He has given us a clear set of rules by which we should live our lives: worship only Him; when troubled, pray; when hurt, forgive; when there is a need, help; when in doubt, trust in God; offer praise and thanksgiving and above all, love.

Thank you, Lord, for the guidelines you’ve given us to get through each day.

Your rules are always right. Help me understand them so that I can live. [Psalm 133:144 (ERV)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 31, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit, Obedience

WE BREAK THE LAW

We Jews know that we have no advantage of birth over “non-Jewish sinners.” We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it—and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good. [Galatians 2:15-16 (MSG)]

There are 613 laws given in the Old Testament that cover everything from sacrifices, religious rituals, and dietary laws to health rules, civil law and to how to get along with other people. A quick look at the Old Testament shows us that having the law and knowing the law certainly didn’t mean following it. Even the clear laws about not making graven images or setting up pillars for worship weren’t followed. In spite of well-defined directions about handling the Ark, we know David screwed that one up! Although the Jews were to heed the call of every prophet in every generation, deaf ears were turned to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many others. The Old Testament demonstrates that mankind can never be made right with God by good behavior, simply because we are incapable of it on our own. The law demands perfection and it’s easy to see none of us are anywhere close to that.

Paul had his work cut out for him trying to unite Jewish and non-Jewish Christians in one faith. Several Jewish Christians believed that the laws of the Old Testament were binding on the new church. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul points out that salvation doesn’t come from following the law but from faith in Christ. Although Paul wrote that Christ freed us from the law, we must remember that salvation in Christ doesn’t free us from good conduct. Now, however, we don’t have to do it on our own power. With Christ is in us; good behavior is possible. When we get right with God by faith, we are changed. We follow God’s way, not because the law says we have to but because we want to and, with the power of the Holy Spirit, we are capable of doing so.

So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counterclaims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we’ve learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We’ve finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade. [Romans 3:27-28 (MSG)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 23, 2014

Posted under

Bible Stories, Forgiveness, Obedience

Casting Stones

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” …

[Jesus] said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” …

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” [John 8:4-5,7,10b-11 (NIV)]

Because none of the Pharisees or scribes were without sin, none dared to lift a stone against this woman. There was one person present that day, however, who was completely without sin: Jesus. Yet, he didn’t cast a stone; instead, he was filled with mercy. Lack of condemnation on his part, however, doesn’t mean that Jesus condoned or excused her sin; in fact he tells her to sin no more. We must never confuse God’s forgiveness and absolution of our sins with toleration of them.

Lord, remind us all to reflect on our sins before condemning others. May we always remember that you expect us to change our lives and leave our sinful ways so that we can walk in your holy way.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [John 3:17 (NIV)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 22, 2014

Posted under

Bible Stories, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Temptation & Sin

What Will it Be: Dust or Ink?

Lord, hope of Israel, those who leave you will be shamed. People who quit following the Lord will be like a name written in the dust, because they have left the Lord, the spring of living water. [Jeremiah 17:13 (NCV)]

 “…This woman was caught having sexual relations with a man who is not her husband. The law of Moses commands that we stone to death every woman who does this. What do you say we should do?” …

But Jesus bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger. When they continued to ask Jesus their question, he raised up and said, “Anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone at her.” Then Jesus bent over again and wrote on the ground. [John 8:4-5, 6b-8 (NCV)]

I’ve always wondered why and what Jesus was writing on the ground that day when the adulterous woman was brought to him. What is the reason for the inclusion of this detail? The IVP New Testament Commentary Series sheds some light on this incident. It was unlawful to write on a Sabbath or holy day (and this was likely the last day of the Feast of Shelters.) One could, however, write in the dust. By writing only in the dusty ground, Jesus showed that he knew religious law.

That tells me why Jesus was writing in the dirt, but what could he have been writing? The IVP Commentary speculates that Jesus could have been writing the words of Jeremiah and/or the names of the woman’s accusers. Since they were Pharisees and teachers of religious law, they would all have been familiar with Jeremiah’s warning. They knew they were sinners and that those who sin against the Lord would soon be forgotten; their names would blow away like the dust. We will never know why or what Jesus was writing that day but, as for me, I want indelible ink (not dust) used to write my name in God’s book.

But you should not be happy because the spirits obey you but because your names are written in heaven. [Luke 10:20 (NCV)]

The glory and the honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing unclean and no one who does shameful things or tells lies will ever go into it. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter the city. [Revelation 21:26-27 (NCV)]

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 19, 2014

Posted under

Holy Spirit, Obedience

Don’t Be an Idiot

I am in Christ, and I am telling you the truth; I do not lie. My conscience is ruled by the Holy Spirit, and it tells me I am not lying. [Romans 9:1 (NCV)]

When I learned to drive, my car had warning lights that would alert me to potential engine problems. My driver’s ed instructor called them “idiot lights” because “anyone who ignores them is an idiot.” Our conscience is led by the Holy Spirit and is our own personal warning system. Whenever we hear that voice saying, “I really shouldn’t…,” we immediately should heed that warning!

So be careful and do not refuse to listen when God speaks. [Hebrews 12:25a (NCV)]