obey Archives – Sonshine's Journal

September 21, 2024September 21, 2024

9.21.24 Do’s…Don’t’s

1 Cor 10 “Do’s and Don’ts”

Can you hear your parents saying those words to you as you grew up? Paul considers himself the parent to the Corinthians, and as such, he reminds them of those who went before them and they did not obey the Lord thus incurring consequences. That is the same for us today. God has given us the “do’s” so that He might bless us and the “don’ts,” thus incurring the consequences if we do not.

So where are you obeying the Lord today OR are you disobeying? Read this chapter closely to learn what is acceptable and what is not.

Paul reminds the Corinthians of their ancestors: they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.” But, then they were distracted by the idolatry of the nations around them and fell into their ways. Beloved, this should not be! “God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness.” You may not be in the literal wilderness, but you may be in a wilderness of your choices. At one time you chose to follow the Rock, Jesus but along the way you were distracted by the glitz and glamor of the world. John reminds us to not love the world or the things of the world for they will pass away.

Today where is your focus? Are you devoting yourself to the earthly things or to the eternal things? Check your heart and your actions.

July 9, 2024July 9, 2024

Teachers Listen Up!

Matthew 5 When I began teaching I never understood the commands of God but now as I look back,I can see how His hand has been upon me since then. In my study time I came across two verses that are critical for every teacher to memorize and rehearse and have been in my “arsenal” since then:

So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [Matt 5:19] and If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.[Mark 9:42]

These words are not just for teachers of little ones, they are also for those who teach any age group. If you are a teacher, take heed and memorize these words as a way of protecting yourself and the ones you teach. When I was young, the very first verse I learned was Psalm 119:105 and that truth is still relevant today and more so for teachers.

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023

God’s Rule Book

Exodus 21-24 Do you like rules, or do you balk at them? Why do we need them? Can’t we decide for ourselves what will work? God knew that men needed rules to bring order out of chaos and peace to a functioning society. But, unfortunately, since time began, man has balked at rules, and today we are seeing the pervasive result as our crime statistics are rising.

Then God invites the elders and Moses to a dinner party on the mountain. They see His presence and bask in His glory. After, Moses gives an order to them to wait for him as he goes to speak with God and takes Joshua with him as his assistant. Will they pass the test as the days pass on one after another?

These chapters offer us a glimpse into our mindset and our behavior. We are given tests to assess our willingness to abide by God’s plan. We are given rules to help us organize our lives and a test of waiting to see if we will be faithful.

Where are we failing? Where are we passing? Each day is a new day to examine ourselves in both areas.

March 30, 2014

Divine Protection

God’s chosen and redeemed people have this promise found in Psalm 34:7 “The Lord’s angel camps around the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them.” As NT believers we have the indwelling Holy Spirit that will encamp around us as if we had a hedge about us. Even Satan said to God about Job “Have you not made a hedge around him…” Yes, Beloved, we can trust in our God that because he loves us he has chosen to put a hedge about us to protect us just as a parent puts a hedge about their child. But, as believers we are given a choice to stay behind that hedge of protection or we can step out and then we are left defenseless against the foes of darkness.

Exodus 23:20 “I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared. Take heed because of him, and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for my name is in him. But if you diligently obey him and do all that I command, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will be an adversary to your adversaries.”

There are some principles we can glean and practically apply to our lives today from these verses in Exodus. One is that we are to beware of him–or to fear him. We remember from Proverbs that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Secondly, we are to obey his voice for in his voice are the words of wisdom. Again this is the voice of wisdom and discernment. Thirdly, we are not to provoke him for “my name is in him.”

So how does this fit with the NT indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit? We recall two verses: 1Thess 5:19 “Do not quench the Spirit;” and Eph 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Thus the same OT principles apply to the NT believer. The Holy Spirit is given to us to guide and protect us. He is within us speaking “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

Beloved, is there some place you have stepped out from behind the hedge of protection that the Lord has placed around you? Know this: you are now open and vulnerable to the arrows of the enemy, the adversary. Quickly run and hide behind the loving protection of the Holy Spirit. Put your armor on Beloved and stand strong. The indwelling illuminating Holy Spirit is your protection and he desires one thing: obedience that he may bring you into God’s loving presence pure and holy. Will you take heed of his voice? Will you obey him?