03/10/2025
Just a quick a reminder:
Jeremiah 7:23 KJV
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
God knows you can’t obey him completely, so He is more interested in how much you want to obey Him. To want to obey Him more, you must grasp a true understanding of obedience and how it builds or destroys relationships.
From the six-year-old who leaves her playmates because her mother has called her in for dinner to the business executive who pays his taxes on time, we all live in a web of relationships that depend upon obedience to authority.
Like a loving parent or a responsible government, God sets standards of behavior for your own good and to protect you from evil and harm.
Some people defy authority, but obedience to God actually frees us to enjoy life as God intended because it keeps us from becoming entangled in this life's harmful situations.
Like the story of the parable of the Sower in the Bible:
Matthew 13:22 KJV
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Material things and earthly pleasures might hinder and misdirect us from obedience to God. So we need to be mindful of how we live our lives.
Even though God’s commandments are sometimes difficult to obey, or sometimes they don’t make sense from our human perspective. Obedience to His words will always bring blessing, joy, and peace.
Like it was said in this 2 verses:
James 1:25 KJV
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Joshua 1:8b KJV
for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
When you look at obedience this way, then you obey God out of love and gratitude for all he’s trying to do for you rather than out of fear of being punished.
The more you obey out of love, the more you want to obey, and the more that obedience becomes a lifestyle rather than a chore. The more that obedience becomes a lifestyle, the less you are tempted to avoid the consequences of poor decisions.
We need to be mindful how we obey God, because actions can be fake, but God sees what's in our hearts our intentions and emotions.
We'll always be tested, even in small matters like honesty vs. dishonesty or pride vs. humility. Sometimes it's not the big tasks that are hard to follow, but rather the simple, small acts of obedience to God that we often neglect and justify, thinking they're just minor sins. We might assume God won't be angry or will understand our reasons
But that's not how it works, God will always hate sin and disobedience to His words are always be a transgression to Him even in a big or small things, wrong doings always have a consequences and punishments but obedience to Him will always bring a blessings to us.
Let's consistently ask God in prayer to give us the strength to continue doing what's right to His sight. Because God will help and lead us in every situation.
Psalm 23:3b KJV
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psalm 37:23 KJV
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Since God is the creator of life, he knows how life is supposed to work. Obedience to his ways demonstrates your willingness to follow through on what he says is best. It shows your trust that God’s way will work for you, and that will inspire the people around you.
Lastly, this is one of my favorites stories in the Bible about what happens if you follow God's word.
Matthew 7:24-27 KJV
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. [26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Both people mentions in the close of Jesus sermon on the mount share in common their exposure to His teaching. The difference is that one follows Jesus' words and the other ignores them.
The different outcomes don't demonstrate that one life is easier than the other (they both experience storms); rather, one survives and thrives while the other collapses.
Hebrews 10:23 KJV
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
God never fails ❤️