Tag Archives: obedience

April 27

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I Chronicles 12:23-40, Psalms 2, 78

I thought it was interesting to see how some of the warriors were described. ‘Zadok, a brave young warrior’. ‘Issacher understood the times’. ‘The men of Zebulun were experienced soldiers’. ‘Men of Daniel ready for battle’. ‘Men of Ephraim were famous in their own clan’. (that one makes me smile)

So God is asking me how I think I would be described. How would I want to be described?

‘Connie the lazy one.’ No, I don’t like that. ‘Connie the gossip’. Doesn’t work for me, either. ‘Connie the teacher, the school counselor’. I loved my career in public education. But I don’t think that defines me, either.

I think I’d like to be described as ‘ Connie, the woman who loves the Lord’. Or ‘Connie, God’s servant’. Or ‘Connie the caring one.’ How about ‘Connie, one who looks like Jesus’.

What is it I want people to see in me? What defines me?

I know when I stand before the Lord he will describe me as ‘Connie, the one who is righteous and holy because she accepted mine.’

But until then I have some thinking to do. Maybe I have some changing to do. Because the reality is people are describing me whether I want them to or not. I need to consider carefully what they are saying.

God, thank you for your word to us today. Help us to consider how we are representing ourselves… how we are representing you. May we be rightly described as Godly people. It will glorify you if we are.

April 14

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I Chronicles 9:35-44, 5:7-10, 5:18-22, I Samuel 15:1-16:23

God told Saul to go to battle and not take any plunder. Nothing was to come back with the Jewish soldiers. But the livestock were healthy. Saul let his men bring back healthy sheep and goats.

When Samuel called him on it Saul said he thought he would use them for sacrifices.

Once again we see an example of someone trying to go to God on their terms and not God’s. God instructed Saul to destroy everything in that city. Saul thought he had a better idea.

Let’s beware of the temptation to rationalize sin or try to convince ourselves that a sin can be used for God’s glory. It just can’t happen.

Because of his disobedience, God took the kingdom away from Saul. Samuel left Saul and never saw him again after that. Was God serious about taking no plunder? What does Scripture tell us?

Father, it’s not always easy to obey you. Sometimes we are tempted to justify a sin and still think we can serve you. Help us to realize that you mean what you say and you tell us to be holy as you are holy. You tell us to flee sin and if we entertain sin in our lives we are disobeying. Help us also to realize that the consequences for disobedience are great. We want to be a people who love you and who serve you on your terms, not ours.

April 12

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I Samuel 10:1-13:22

Saul is Israel’s first flesh and blood king. He wasn’t real sure he wanted the position, was he? They found him hiding in the baggage the day they annointed him. Some of his neighbors weren’t too thrilled with the choice, either. But Saul proved to be a great military leader and the people eventually accepted him as their king.

But as you read today, did you see how quickly Saul allowed his new-found position to give him a sense of entitlement? Saul wanted Samuel to offer up a burnt offering and Samuel was late in arriving. So Saul did it himself.

When Samuel saw what Saul had done, he told the king that the nation would be taken from him, that God had already chosen his successor.

Once again I am remided that it doesn’t matter who you think you are. God’s standards cannot be broken without serious consequences. You can be a lowly slave or the king of Israel and the rules are the same.

Let’s not get so full of ourselves that we assume God will make an exception for us. Saul found out the hard way a lesson we all must learn.

Father, we bow before you today as the One who wrote the rule book. May you find us obedient, knowing that it doesn’t matter who we are. You expect the same of all of us.

April 3

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Judges 5-7

It always puzzles me why people like Gideon, who spoke face to face with the angel of God (which many believe was Jesus Himself) still needed a sign or two or three before they believed God. The offering was burned up, the fleece was wet, the fleece was dry. Then Gideon believed and did what God had asked him to do.

I need to be careful before I judge old Gideon. I may not be able to speak to the angel of God face to face, but I have several copies of God’s written word in my home. I can open those pages any time of any day and read God’s words to me.

So why, if he says “I will never leave or forsake you” do I wonder at times if he’s here. If he says he forgives sins and remembers them no more, why do I continue to carry guilt as though I’m not forgiven? If he promises to go with me why don’t I obey the call to share him with others?

God is not a mystery. He has laid it all out there for us to read in the Bible. How many signs do I need before I believe him?

April 2

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Judges 18:1-31, 3:7-4:24

Where did Micah get the idea it was ok to worship God and still have household gods and idols in his home? He even hired himself his own live-in priest. He must have been feeling pretty holy.

Another question I have is why did the Danites think Micah had a good thing going? They convinced Micah’s priest to go with them and stole Micah’s idols. When they moved into their new city they set up the idols and hired priests. But 18:30 says… until the time of captivity of the land.

Yes, eventually God will allow another nation to defeat the Israelites. This is the beginning of decades of the Jews obeying God, drifting away from God, disobeying God, suffering because of it, then repenting. And every time they repent we’ll see that God is going to come to their rescue.

It’s no different with us. As I look at my own life I remember times much like what I described with Israel. And yes, God is faithful to forgive every time I go to him. But if I shake my head at Israel and ask, why didn’t they learn… I have to ask the same about myself.

God is very plain to say that we cannot have him and household gods and idols, too. We can’t serve two masters. He is a jealous God who demands all of our worship. Period.

When walking with the Lord, living in the Promised Land is so wonderful. Why would I settle for anything less… especially knowing there are consequences for disobedience.

Father, help me to recognize any household gods or idols that are creeping up in my life. May I be quick to eliminate anything that would come between me and you. Help me put into perspective relationships, entertainment, commitment, or anything else that would compete with my focus on you. And may I walk with you today as you deserve.

March 29

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Joshua 16:1-19:31, I Chronicles 4:24-33

Joseph’s family weren’t all that thrilled about their inheritance. They looked around and realized some of the other families seemed to have received more land than they. So they complained to Joshua. Give us more, they cried. Joshua says, If you don’t like it, if you think you need more, then put down the remote and get busy clearing the land you have. They replied, it’s too hard! To which Joshua said, get over yourself. Clear it. You can do it.

Ok. Maybe that’s not an exact quote from Scripture but you get the idea. Joseph’s family wanted to live comfortably in Canaan but they were unwilling to do what needed to be done to make that happen.

This Christian life is hard work. While we walk this earth there are things to do, battles to win. And each of us has a job to do no one else can do. If we want to live in Canaan we’ve got to cut down some trees. If we want that deeper relationship with the Lord we’ve got to cut out sin.

It’s a personal road we are on. And if we don’t do what God is asking we will never realize what it is like to fellowship with him on that deeper level.

Today is Good Friday, the day we celebrate the death of our Savior. Talk about a tough job. Jesus had to go to the cross. He was the only one who could do it. But he was obedient all the way. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame. The thing is Jesus WANTED to go to the cross. He set his face like flint, meaning he knew what he wanted and nothing was going to stop him. The joy that was set before him was me. It was you. It was all of us who choose Jesus.

Dear Jesus, thank you for going to the cross for me. You went willingly because you knew I would accept you as my Savior two thousand years later. I pray that I won’t be satisfied just to accept your gift of salvation without doing everything it takes to walk as close to you as I can get this side of heaven. Reveal the sin in me that needs to be cut down. And may I be quick to obey, for the joy set before me… the joy of having that deeper relationship with you.

March 22

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Deuteronomy 29-31

So if God knew the Jews would take the Promised Land, enjoy God’s blessings, then get comfortable and turn to other gods… why bother? I could ask the same thing about us. Because, isn’t it true that the more we are blessed, the better our life is going, the easier it is to pull away from God without even realizing it? Oh, when hardships come we are quick to pray. But we, like the nation of Israel, can neglect our relationship with God when one sin enters our hearts, then another and another.

So why doesn’t God just call it quits? Israel’s choices… and mine… serve to show the world who God is. And God is busy working in the hearts of unbelievers to come to Him. God doesn’t call it quits because people are still being saved.

Deuteronomy 30:19&20 spoke to me this morning. God has set before us life and death, blessings and curses. He asks us to choose life. He wants us to love Him and obey Him so He can bless us.

When Joshua was appointed leader of Israel God said this to him, “Be strong and courageous for… I myself will be with you.”

God, thank you for your promise to go with us and bless us. Forgive us when we get too comfortable and take you for granted. May we choose to obey you today. May we choose life.

March 21

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Deuteronomy 27, 28

I’ve been a Christian for decades. But I haven’t always had a close relationship with God. There have been times, years really, that although I professed to be a Christian I held on to sin or neglected my walk by not reading the Bible, praying, or going to church. On the outside I might have looked like a good girl, inside God was fighting for a position in my heart.

Moses told the Israelites if they obeyed God they would be so blessed. But if they disobeyed they would experience the list of horrible consequences. Deuteronomy 28:55&56 says:

Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the Lord will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.

That was my experience when I began to walk away from the Lord. And the farther I got from Him, the more it was true.

I am burdened for all of us today. God doesn’t want us to live like that. If we are feeling anxious, despair, dread or longing maybe it’s God saying, “Come back to me”.

Father, thank you that you are the giver of good things, that you long for us to walk with you and enjoy our journey. Thank you for those uncomfortable feelings that can remind us to put you first in our lives. And may you find us willing to do that today.

March 20

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Deuteronomy 23-26

Sometimes when I read the Bible certain things jump out at me. Other times not so much. This morning was one of those “not so much” times. I would love to know if God pointed out something to you as you read today.

In these chapters of Deuteronomy Moses continues to talk to Israel about the Promised Land, about how God wants them to treat each other, about where they have been.

I am reminded that this is Moses’ last address to the people before he dies. He tells them how important it is that they not sin, that they treat each other fairly, that they do the work that needs to be done. The nation of Israel was to look and act differently from every other nation on earth. And God would bless them.

As I meditate on God’s Word today God is saying the same thing to me. He wants me to stand out from the crowd as well.

Dear God, You are asking me to be the person in my neighborhood with a reputation for being honest, kind, moral, caring and trustworthy. May I stand out from the crowd as someone who loves You, obeys You and is blessed by You. And may they recognize my Savior as they observe me today.

March 8

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Numbers 25,26 and I Chronicles 7:14-29

When Phinehas learned that an Israelite man had blatantly disobeyed God, he went to drastic measures to stop him. Phinehas’ obedience stopped a plague that was destroying Israel.

Here is what God said about Phinehas:

“… he was as zealous as I am for my honor…”

What does it mean that God is zealous for his honor? The commandment about not having any other gods before him isn’t a suggestion. When God says be holy he is not talking in generalities. God is serious about revealing himself to a lost world through the obedience of his children.

And God knows time is limited compared to eternity. God doesn’t have time to play around. There are lost people to win and he is not willing that any should perish. We’ll have opportunity in eternity to relax and enjoy our position in Christ.

Until then we have work to do. Let’s be as zealous as God is about his honor. Let’s get busy and share him while we still have time.

Father, we sometimes forget the urgency in our message. Help us to be zealous about revealing you to our friends and neighbors who still don’t know you.