Category: obedience

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Exodus 39 Obedience

Obey God only

This chapter shows the proof that when one obeys they are commended. Moses wrote this so let’s hear his words: the people did “just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” It is repeated so we don’t miss it. God was pleased and He blessed them. Not only were they blessed but Moses recorded this 8 times for our edification. “Moses inspected all the work, and they had done it just as the Lord had commanded—they had done it exactly—and Moses blessed them.”  Did you notice what he wrote? They had done it exactly, no short corners, no shabby work, but done just as the Lord had commanded, so they did.

What has God called you to do and will you go it exactly as He commands? What a great reminder! 

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EXODUS 33 Moses speaks with God

Let God speak

God had chosen Moses to lead His people but they were a stiff necked people. What does that phrase bring to mind but a people who were disobedient and proud and rebellious. The Israelites were familiar with that expression as one speaks of an ox who refuses to obey. Imagine being compared to that? God is saying you are no better than the animal I created. When the people heard that they humbled themselves and removed their ornaments.

A second thing noteworthy was how the people showed their humility after that rebuke from God. When Moses passed by on the way to the Tent of Meeting, as he called it, they rose at the door of their tent and worshiped. We stand in reverence when the scripture is read as a sign of respect and humility. 

A third noteworthy thing to see is that Moses and God spoke face to face while the pillar of the cloud stood over the tent. How bold was Moses to speak what was on his mind to the Lord God Almighty. Am I that bold to speak to God as Moses spoke? 

A fourth thing from this passage is that after leaving God to return to the people, his face shone. Does my face shine after being in His presence? 

Great lessons just from this chapter. 

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Waiting

how are your waiting skills

Exodus 24 Loyalty Tested 

As Abraham told his servants when he and Isaac went ahead,so Moses told the leaders: “Wait for us in this place until we return to you.”  This then was a test to see if Aaron and Hur would obey and be true leaders. Abraham tested his servants with those words and they passed the test. Not so with Aaron and Hur.

How often does God tell us to wait but we become impatient and step in to do what we think we need to do .  Waiting is hard but it is a test to see if we will be loyal to our Master Jesus. We wait now for His return and it has been centuries. Will we wait obediently or will we take matters into our own hands? 

The psalmist wrote: “Psa 106:13 They quickly forgot what he had done; they did not wait for his instructions.” How about us? 

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Genesis 25-26 Trust…or…Fear

Are you fearful and if so of what?

Two times in these chapters we read that God blessed Isaac because of the obedience of his father Abraham. This is a principle that God has revealed: children are blessed because of the obedience and faithfulness of their parents. 

Yet, Isaac had a failure just as Abraham in that he did not trust God to protect his wife, but instead lied about his relationship with her. But, just as Numbers tells us , if we sin, God will reveal it loud and clear which is exactly what happened to Isaac. [Num 32:23] Both Abraham and Isaac had one glaring failure which the book of Proverbs tells us: The fear of man is a snare but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. [Prov29:25]

So why did God bless Abraham and Isaac? God clearly points out that He hates lying in Proverbs 6 and in other places we see the fruit of lies like in the account of Gehazi where God pronounced leprosy on him. These are those issues that we find frustrating but when that happens and we don’t have clear cut answers, we need to remember Isaiah 55:8-9. His ways are higher and more superior to ours. 

God has His plans and even though we may not understand, we can trust that His way is the right and true way. Where is God calling you to trust Him today and tomorrow and the next day? 

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Genesis 16-18 God is Sovereign

Who is God?

As we read this book we are reminded that God is God and there is no one to match Him or His work. What He says, He shall do. Over and over God reveals Himself to Abram, who is now to be called Abraham, and reveals His plans to him. This is a clear reminder of what Paul told the Ephesians:”In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him” [Eph 1:9] 

Where has God revealed His plans to you? If you are struggling with that, seek Him while He may be found and He will do as you need. 

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Be Impartial

Open the eyes of my heart Lord

James 2 See with Jesus Eyes 

When I grew up, I was faced with prejudice and all its faults. I was forbidden to have interactions with those of another race and another ethnic background. I found it hard to understand but found that little by little those factors crept into my thinking. So, when God saw that He sent me three people to change that perspective, and I praise God for that. No longer do I see with my human eyes the differences but now pray for God to show me His love for each one regardless of their background or ethnicity. James seems to have faced this head on in the church in Jerusalem where there were both the poor who had come to Christ and the wealthy who had come to Christ. Yet, both carried the baggage of their former life into the church and so it is with us; sadly. 

James reminds the reader to look at this situation through the eyes of God. He accepted Rahab who had no lineage to the Israelites, yet it was to her that He revealed Himself and she called him “El Roi,” the God who sees me. He also accepted Abraham, the father of the Israelite nation. To both He is saying; “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” [James 2:9] Beloved, this should not be! Christ died for all and all should be accepted equally.  

The question before us is this: are we looking with our heart or with our mind? Are we evaluating each through the heart of God? Do we select to whom we will offer the cup of cold water? Jesus ministered to all no matter their social background or lineage. How about us?  

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Do’s and Don’ts

How to have a peaceful home

Eph 4 Do you have someone who rubs you the wrong way? There are those who seem to find pleasure in starting factious conversations and actions. How do we handle these kinds of people? Paul gives us some practical ideas all with the purpose of not grieving the Spirit by whom we were redeemed. After a lengthy dialog Paul succinctly says, “You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it would give grace to those who hear” [Eph 4:29] How often do our thoughts erupt into words that are displeasing to the Lord? Paul reminds us that to do so grieves the Holy Spirit who has sealed us, marked us out as believers in Christ. 

In light of eternity, how often have we said things we wish we could take back? Paul reminds us that one day we will be held accountable for every word we utter before the Holy Father. Are you ready to do that? Is your speech pure and holy so that when you stand before Him you are unashamed? 

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Praise God!

The key to salvation

Eph 3 Praise God for His immeasurable grace and gift of salvation 

Paul writes to the Ephesians to know that it was by the grace of God that He revealed the promise of salvation to all Gentiles…as well as the Jews. This mystery was revealed so that we might glory in this revelation. Paul writes: 

“the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.” [Eph 3:6]  Consider those points: fellow heirs of the kingdom of our Savior, fellow members of the body meaning the church. In addition, fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. No longer do the 

Gentiles sit apart from the grace and salvation of God but now we, who are the Gentiles, are able to say praise be to God for now I, like the Jew, can inherit the kingdom of God.  I can glory in the promises of Christ with all its blessings. I, like the Jew, can inherit the kingdom which awaits for His appearance and gathering of the saints. 

Remember and cling to this promise: “the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness.”[Eph 3:12-13] We the Gentiles now have all of the above and in addition, we have this promise: we can boldly enter the Holy of Holies to present our gifts and prayers to the Father. And this all happened because of the faithfulness of God’s Holy Son who gave his life for us.

Amazing thoughts to ponder today. 

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Choosing wisely

How to have a peaceful home

Psalm 39 Have you ever said something and immediately regretted it? This seems to be the case for King David as he wrote this psalm. He, like us, needed some wisdom to know when to speak and what those words should be. Words can be piercing or they can be like a balm of Gilead.  Later he wrote: my tongue is a ready writer. [Ps 45:1] But, is it? We have a choice to use our tongue for good or for evil. Wisdom begins by fearing the Lord and he who guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from trouble. [Proverbs 21:3] Paul writing to the Ephesian church said, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment that it may give grace to those who hear.” [Eph 4:29] 

Maybe, or perhaps, that is why the psalmist wrote these words as a cautionary thought and practice for himself and now for us. “I will guard my way that I may not sin with my tongue, I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle.” [Ps 39:1] He specifically says that is a needed reminder when he is in the presence of the wicked. And who are the wicked but those who choose to not follow God and His precepts. The principle being: choose wisely when to speak and when to be silent. 

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Actions speak louder than words

Mark 6 Listening but not believing

Mark notes that Herod was baffled by the words of John but he never made a commitment to the Lord. We can listen all we want but if we do not commit, then we are as lost as Herod. Prov 29:25 comes to mind: the fear of man is a snare and we see that in this chapter. 

On a night when Herod had a dinner, he made a foolish vow to give the child who danced before him a gift of whatever she asked. Her mother told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. Hearing this, Herod was sad but he was more afraid of not keeping his word than keeping the life of a man who spoke truth to him. There are many like Herod in our world. They love to sit in the pew but do not bow the knee to the Savior. They are baffled but do not step out and search their hearts. 

Are you more like Herod or like John the Baptist? Are you just listening or are you committed to Jesus? 

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