Tag Archives: obedience

March 6

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Numbers 19-21

I am reminded again today that God’s demand for obedience is consistent for everyone. He doesn’t require complete obedience from one person and overlook disobedience in someone else… even if that person is Moses.

I’m not sure what possessed Moses to take matters into his own hands. Was it pride? Was he so caught up in his position as God’s spokesman that he felt tapping the rock would be a more impressive show than just talking to it? Did he have a moment of doubt that God would bring water from the rock with just a word and then Moses would look foolish before an already angry group of Israelites? He had tapped a rock once before and it had worked. Maybe he felt he could help God along just a little.

The reason behind the disobedience doesn’t really matter. We can rationalized Moses’ or our own disobedience all day long and it doesn’t change the most important issue… disobedience. And if it’s Moses or me, God does not excuse disobedience for any reason.

Father, help me to obey. Sometimes it’s hard because I’m afraid of looking foolish in front of others. Sometimes I have momentary doubt. But help me to understand that the “why” of my disobedience isn’t important. No excuses. I want to be your obedient child today.

March 5

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Numbers 16-18

Often I am amazed that when I read the Bible, it seems it could have been written about the world in 2013. In chapter 16 we see 250 Israelite men rising up against Moses. Just listen to their complaint:

“You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

Have you ever heard the same accusations today? When  a Christian proclaims the Truth it is often met with someone who says… “Who made you judge? There are a lot of good religions in the world and Christianity is just another of them.” or “How can you impose your view of morality on anyone? You must be a hater, intolerant.”

Here’s the thing. Moses didn’t make himself the leader of Israel.  Remember how he tried to talk God out of giving him that responsibility? And we Christians didn’t get together and decide that homosexuality or murder is wrong and we didn’t come up with a plan and call it the gospel.

God did, though.

Like it or not there is only one Truth. That’s not me talking… it’s God. The 250 Israelites lost their lives as a result of their rebellion. The reality is anyone who reject God’s truth will also lose in the end. It really doesn’t matter if you approve of God’s plan or not. It only matters that you accept it as Truth and obey.

God, I am so thankful that you made your plan plain. You spelled it out so completely that there can be no mistake. Help us who know you to share your plan in love and humility, but never apologetically. And may people who don’t know you, come to your Truth  today.

March 3

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Numbers 11-13

The twelve spies went to check things out in Canaan. When they returned they presented Moses with a frightening report. Yes, the land is fertile and the crops amazing, but the people are huge and powerful, the cities large and fortified.

Then Caleb jumps up and says… So what’s stopping us? Let’s roll!

Sometimes what God calls us to do seems as threatening and difficult as taking land from giants. But when faith like Caleb’s steps forward, God is able to accomplish great things.

I knew a father of four who quit his job as restaurant manager to pastor a small, struggling church. I’ve known single women who leave the comforts of home to go into remote areas of third world countries to share Jesus. I know some young parents who feel God asking them to live on one paycheck so the moms can stay at home with their children. And in all cases God has been faithful and people are being blessed beyond what they could imagine.

If God is calling you to do something a little scary I hope you answer with faith like Caleb’s. It could be a career change, going back to school, reaching out to someone, teaching a Sunday School class, or any number of challenges .

If God asks let’s answer… let’s roll!

February 27

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Numbers 3&4

The Levites had a lot of responsibility caring for the Temple and all that went with it. The sons of Levi were chosen by God to be priests through which the nation of Israel would have access to God. So they were responsible for the material church and the spiritual health of the Jewish people.

Peter calls us a royal priesthood in I Peter 2:5&9. We who have received mercy have the responsibility to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called (us) out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

So when I read about the duties of the Old Testament priests I try to make a connection to what God intends for us today. After all, there really is a spiritual parallel for us in the day to day lives recorded in the Old Testament.

I noticed that each family had specific requirements. It was all very organized. No one person did everything and none were exempt.

A healthy New Testament church is like that, too. As a kingdom of priests, a royal priesthood, each of us should be actively involved in a body of believers, using our gifts and talents for the building up of saints to equip us to share the gospel with our neighbors and friends.

God has a job for each of us to do within His church. I pray that He will give each of us opportunities to serve Him and that He will find us faithful.

Father, I thank you for your Church. I thank you that we have the privilege of gathering together as a body of believers to worship you, to learn from your word, and to encourage one another. Help each of us to find our place within that congregation of Bible believing worshipers. And may your Church be healthy because each of us has obeyed your call to action.

February 25

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Leviticus 26&27

God promised that if the Israelites obeyed his commands they would be blessed. They would have rain when they needed it and they would eat all the food they wanted. They would live safely in their land and God would look favorably upon them.

But if they disobeyed there would be consequences. Crops would fail. If that didn’t get their attention wild animals would kill livestock and children. God gave them a long progression of horrible things that would happen as long as they continued in disobedience.

Then in verse 40 of chapter 26 God says… BUT. All he asked of Israel is that they repent. Confess their sins in humility and pay for their sins with the blood sacrifice.

God didn’t want to punish them. He wanted to bless them. And it’s the same today.

God takes no joy in seeing any of his children suffer. He wants to bless us in the sight of the nations as he did the early Jews. But if we don’t, there are consequences.

People are always saying… things are so much worse than when I was young. And it’s true. And it will continue to be true according to God’s Word. When we read Leviticus we get a glimpse into the mind of God who demands obedience. And who is very honest with the fact that if we don’t obey, things will continue to get worse. There is a long progression of horrible things that will happen as long as we ignore God.

Just as it was during the time the Jews were in the desert, God wants us to come to him with humbled hearts and confess our sins. The big difference between then and now is that our sins are already paid for by the precious blood of Jesus. We need only to accept it.

How much worse will our lives get? I guess that depends on us who know the truth and how willing we are to obey. It will depend on whether or not we are living holy lives and leading others to Jesus.

Dear God, give us humble hearts. May you find your children obedient, holy as you are holy. And may we be about the work you’ve chosen us for… revealing you to a lost world.

February 9

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Exodus 22-24

God promised the nation of Israel that if they obeyed him and followed the laws he set down he would be on their side. He would defeat their enemies and drive out the people now living in the land he had promised them.

But, God said, he wouldn’t do it in a day. Little by little he would drive out the inhabitants until the Jews were ready to take possession of the land.

Have you ever had to wait for an answer to prayer?

If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time you’ll agree that God’s timing is often not the same as ours. I imagine when the Jews marched out of Egypt they figured they’d be mowing the grass in their new homes in Canaan in a few short weeks.

God had a different time table. Little by little, he told them.

We don’t like to wait, do we? In our age of instant gratification, microwavable dinners, the fastest internet service we can find, we want our prayers to be microwavable, too. Ask and you’ll receive… now.

But while we learn to wait for God’s timing let’s not miss the lessons he wants us to learn along the way. God wanted Israel to increase enough to take the land. He wants our faith and trust, our maturity to increase enough for us to handle the answers to our prayers, too.

Father, thank you for answered prayer. Forgive us when our faith is shaken when we don’t receive the answers we want fast enough. Teach us to wait and learn, to trust you not only with the “what” of our desires, but the “when” as well.

February 8

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Exodus 19-21

In the next few chapters God is going to lay down the law. What a sight it must have been when God descended on that mountain. Trumpets blaring, fire, smoke. No wonder the Israelites were afraid… as they should. They were standing before a Holy God.

I wonder if we haven’t lost that awe. Do we understand that God is Holy, Holy, Holy? So often we portray him as a benevolent buddy, a giver of gifts, a doting father. His humanness in the form of Jesus certainly has made Him more approachable than the God the Israelites saw on the mountain. But let’s not forget that He is first of all Holy.

The laws He gave Moses prove His holy standard for living. Who can say they have never broken at least one of them? Not me. Do we have a healthy fear of Him when we disobey?

Forgive my soap-box and I know there are saints who disagree with me but I think we are becoming way to casual in our worship of a Holy God. As we read these laws God spelled out for the Israelites, let’s do so before His Holiness.

Dear Father, Thank you that Jesus called us His brothers. And for inviting us to come boldly to your throne with what is on our hearts. Thank you for being a Father, a brother, a friend. You are a personal, intimate God and I am so glad you live in my heart. But help me not to forget that You are Holy and demand holiness in me. Help me not become so familiar with You that I forget Your standard of living. I bow before you today and, with the angels cry… Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty.

February 2

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Exodus 1-4:17

Oh Moses.  History has remembered you as a great leader, a faithful saint. But you were a coward, weren’t you? You tried to talk God out of His plan five different ways, even pleading with God to please send someone else to do it!

But in the end Moses was obedient and we know the nation of Israel gained their freedom through him. God took an insecure, hot-headed, flawed man and because he was obedient, brought his people to the promised land.

Have you ever argued with God? Have I? It probably didn’t sound exactly like the conversation between Moses and God. It probably was more like God laid a person on your heart. You had the thought of reaching out to that person but you pushed the thought aside, thinking you wouldn’t know what to say. Maybe it’s a change of address or career change. Maybe it’s teaching Sunday School or writing a blog. And each time God plants that idea in our heads, instead of praying about it and obeying we, like Moses say… please send someone else. Who am I to lead? What have I to say? What about my past sins? People would think I’m a hypocrite.

God is saying to us… I will help you speak and teach you what to say. He said that to Moses. He says that to me. And I’m thinking He’s saying that to you, too.

Father in Heaven, help us to recognize your prompting and give us the courage to obey. You promised to help us speak and teach us what to say. We are going to hold you to that. Go with us as we listen to your voice and go where you want us to go, do what you want us to do.

January 23

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Gen 27:1-28:9, 36:1-43, I Chronicles 1:35-54

I don’t feel too sorry for Esau. Yes Jacob deceived their father and received the blessing that should have been Esau’s. But from what I read about the elder brother he wasn’t faultless, either.

Esau brought foreign wives into his father’s home and I imagine the women brought their false gods with them. He was so flippant about his birthright he sold it for a bowl of soup. It sounds like he wanted the blessing of being Abraham’s son but he didn’t feel the need to be obedient.

How serious am I about being in my Father’s family? Do I strive to live a life that honors Him or do I take for granted the blessing of being His child? Am I flippant about my salvation, about the cross?

God I am blessed as your child. Help me to live up to your expectations. May I make you proud today.

January 21

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Genesis 22-24

It amazes me how often people traveled during Bible times. God tells Abraham to take his family and possessions and go somewhere and Abraham goes. God says to go somewhere else and Abraham goes somewhere else. And with him go servants, livestock, gold and silver, tents and food. Abraham tells his servant to go to Nahor to find a wife for Isaac and the servant eagerly goes to Nahor. Rebekah is invited to go back to Canaan and she goes.

And no one had four wheel drive and air conditioning.

I am once again convicted. How many times has God laid a neighbor or friend on my heart and I do nothing about it? I can’t go next door or across town to share Jesus with someone and Abraham traveled hundreds of miles in obedience. I can’t pick up the phone but Rebekah could get on a stranger’s camel and travel to a distant land.

What would God have me do today? Where does he want me to go? In which direction is he leading my life? May I be as obedient as Abraham, as eager as Abraham’s servant, and as trusting as Rebekah.