Category Archives: Obedience
New!
2 Cor.5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” [with emphasis].
This is one of my favourite passages of Scripture. In fact, the first book I wrote, New Creation Reality, was based on this passage of Scripture.
Redefined!
Luke 18:22 “…he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.”
In other words, Jesus was saying do not just stop at giving up everything alone, go beyond, and give yourself to serving too. Follow me in my itinerant ministry. But when the man heard this he became very sad because he was very rich.
Ready?
Luke 18:18 (NIV, with emphasis) “A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
The scriptures describe this man as young, rich, healthy, and in my opinion, full of vitality and he was a ruler. It is possible to be rich and be sick, or be rich and not have authority. But he was young, he was rich and he was a ruler. He was recognized in the community. Read the rest of this entry
Differentiator
Matt.7:24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.”
It is the storms and not wealth that is the differentiator in life. The storm is what reveals you to you. And that is why sometimes, God will allow us to experience storms so that we can identify the areas in our lives that are built on sand and not on the rock. Read the rest of this entry
The Progression
John 8:31 “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” [with emphasis]
Jesus lays out a progression for us in today’s Scripture reference and it is – Believe > Obey > Know > Release. There is the believing, then there is the obeying, then there is the knowing and then there is the releasing.
Shortfall
Rom.3:22 “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
Businesses go through seasons and that is totally understandable. However, it is one thing not to have the money to pay salaries and it is another thing to withhold the salaries of your employees.
Phase III
Ex. 20:12 (VOICE) “You are to honour your father and mother. If you do, you and your children will live long and well in the land the Eternal your God has promised to give you.” [with emphasis]
Obeying this commandment is provoking and securing wellness for you and your children. The reason a lot of people keep struggling is because they are dishonouring their parents.
Fitting
Rom. 13:7 (NRSV) “Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honour to whom honour is due.”
Respect is impartial but honour is subjective. Respect is impartial meaning you really do not need to like a person to respect him or her. God wants us to regard our parents as weighty even though that might not be the case.
Supreme
1 Chron.29:11 [KJV] “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all”
In organizations, sometimes people use the boss’ name to get things done. Similarly, in churches people use “Pastor said…” as a prefix to their sentence just because they want to get the advantage, even though pastor did not say that.
Above All
Luke 11:2 (VOICE) “Here’s how to pray: Father [in heaven], may Your name be revered. May Your kingdom come. [May Your will be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven.]
Today’s devotion will take a slightly different pattern. Today, like Jesus, we will begin and end with prayer. So, say out loud to God: “Father, here I am before You Lord.
