September 20 – Why To Obey?

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.” – Deuteronomy 11:26-28  (NASB)

To be listening to the commandments of the Lord is to be in obedience to God. The Children of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land and Moses gave these instructions. It drove home the importance of obedience and trust in God. Throughout the Bible we find much about obedience. But we consider obedience to be an infringement on our so-called “free will.” With that free-will it is impossible for one to obey. We need God o obey God as it is a gift of God. It’s not a chore; it’s a blessing. When we obey blessing and joy is poured out into our hearts. We find in Scriptures reasons why obedience to God is important. We looked at one yesterday. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15). A Second reason is Jesus calls us to Obey.  He’s the perfect model of obedience. As God’s children, we follow Christ's example as well as his commands. Our motivation is love just as Jesus obeyed His Father’s commandments. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10.) 

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July 22 – Listen First, Then Obey

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” – 1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV)

It is in this history lesson about Israel and their King that we find our promise. Given in today’s verse the promise is timeless in its application. King Saul, the first king of Israel in the time of Samuel the prophet/judge, also became the first king rejected by God for his disobedience to God’s command. The King heard and knew what God wanted of him – “Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.”(1 Samuel 15:18). But Saul saw and wanted some of the banned spoils from the battle. He helped himself and Samuel had to confront him. Trying, as we often do to rationalize our actions, Saul claimed with some excuse of how his disobedience was purposed to offer sacrifices to God. The lesson is clear and a promise from God of what he desires above all else – our obedience. God wants and even commands that we not just hear but listen and obey Him in all things. It is not easy and we need God’s help in order to do it. First we listen, then we do what is obedience. God is our sovereign and He blesses faithful obedience.

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May 15 – Listen, Know, Follow

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (NIV)

The life and work of a shepherd was a well known occupation from Old Testament times. When Jesus was on this earth walking among the people he used familiar words to describe Himself – one of them was to described Himself as the Good Shepherd. Those who followed Him were His sheep. Like the sheep cared for by their shepherd, followers of Jesus know and listen to His voice. That means, of course, that Jesus speaks to His followers. We hear his voice as we read the Bible or as we listen to others reading from it. He has so much to tell us. When we read in the Old Testament we can sense Him speaking to us. He speaks to us in the New Testament too.  We can hear Him in His teaching to the disciples and the people as recorded by the Gospel writers. We also hear his voice in the letters written to the churches. Jesus also speaks to us in our hearts through our consciences and He uses the Bible to confirm what he says. Jesus often said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Let's be sure we're listening.

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September 29 – Strength and Courage

“And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”” Daniel 10:19 (ESV)

Although Daniel had lived almost all his life away from his home in Jerusalem, he had served God as His prophet. In this verse today we read what a messenger from God to Daniel had to say when he delivered God's message. When Daniel heard it he was strengthened. God sends us messages too. Perhaps not by an angel appearing to us but through His Word the Bible. We also received messages when we hear others teach and preach the Word of God. We can hear the message and recognize that God is speaking to us and we find encouragement and strength. When God truly speaks, what He speaks is truth. Today, if we will listen, we too can be strengthened through hearing God's messages to us.

October 18

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

These words remind us of the importance of God’s Word. It is so important to remember that what we are hearing or reading is THE WORD OF GOD. Sometimes we are apt to be diverted by others around us, by the one who is teaching or speaking. We need to really listen to what God says and to recognize the real source of what we are hearing. We may forget who is teaching or how we have heard the word, but we should never forget what God has said to us. His word is true forever. It will last forever. It will never change.

August 12

“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” Isaiah 55:2 (NIV)

God wants His people to live lives that satisfy, truly fulfilled lives. And He knows that true satisfaction is spiritual satisfaction. He wants our soul to be delighted, our spiritual needs to be fulfilled. And He explains how this comes about. He says, “Listen, listen to me” How do we do that? God has spoken and His Word is recorded for us. If we want to live fulfilled lives and have our spiritual needs met, let us pay attention to what God says in His Word. Let's listen to Him.

April 21

“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.”  Isaiah 50:4 (NIV)

It sounds like the prophet is speaking from his own experience. We recognize, however, that some of the verses that follow seem to refer to the experiences of Jesus who suffered for us. So why do we read this verse? It is because God does sometimes deal with us as he did with prophets and even with His own Son while He was here. Is it not true that we awaken sometimes with thoughts of the Lord, and we realize He is teaching us? He knows what we need to learn. Let’s listen to Him – in the morning and through the day. 

April 19

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul wrote this promise to the Christians in Thessalonica. But he was writing to all believers, not only to those who had a special call to some special ministry. God's call is to all those who profess to follow Him – all believers. And He calls not just once but He is calling us often. He reminds us that when He calls us to serve Him in some way He does not leave us on our own.  He is faithfully there to do something through us. So we are not the ones who produce the results. It is God who does that through us. Be willing today to listen to His call and answer Him.