How does Jesus wrap things up in His Manifesto?
Jesus is about to wrap His Manifesto (Matthew 5-7). There is one final parable to lay it all out. There …
Tag Archives: Obey
Who are we slaves to? Sin or Jesus?
We know it. Obeying runs against the grain of what we want to do. Jesus demands that we be obedient …
Why should we obey our government and leaders?
This is pretty straight forward. We are to be responsible. We are to respect our leaders. We are to pay …
“Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing.” ~King Solomon
I learned this the hard way with my dad. There was a period of time I thought he was an …
“Happy are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” ~Jesus
In the United States, our declaration of independence has three core principles. One is life. The second is liberty and …
Was Jesus the Messiah’s obedience necessary for God’s salvation plan?
I have a lot to learn about obedience. I have a great teacher in Jesus the Messiah. As a disciple, …
“To this you were called, because the Messiah suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” ~Apostle Peter
I am to show respect to everyone. It starts with the fear of God. It continues with love of my …
“When the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us.” ~Apostle Paul
God showed His infinite kindness to me. God sent His Son Jesus to die for me. Surely I can, by …
“I can do nothing on My own initiative.” ~Jesus
Jesus is completely obedient to the will of His Father. 24/7 it is all about what does God want right …
“Keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.” ~Apostle Paul
They are smooth. They are slick. They flatter me. What’s the problem? I need to be discerning. There are those who …
“Frauds!” ~Jesus
Jesus has the number of the religious elites. They are constantly trying to trap him. They are constantly trying to …
“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness.” ~Apostle Paul
Obedience is a willingness to submit myself to the will of God and to put it into effect. Scripture emphasizes the …
Discipleship – Joy is a Benefit and Results from Being a Disciple
Joy is closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a …
New Covenant — Jesus the Messiah, the Mediator of the New Covenant Sealed in Jesus Blood
What is a covenant? A covenant (διαθήκη diathēkē) is an agreement or contract between two parties. In the scriptures, it …
Obedience — Jesus the Messiah is Totally Obedient to His Father’s Will
I have a lot to learn about obedience. I have a great teacher in Jesus the Messiah. Jesus “learned obedience” …
“It is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” ~Jesus
According to the Bible, though, hell is just as real as heaven. The Bible clearly and explicitly teaches that hell …
“When you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’ ”
I am a slave of Jesus. Jesus is my Master (aka Lord). Jesus owns me. I have to be clear about …
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” ~Jesus
Jesus is about to wrap His Manifesto. There is one final parable to lay it all out. There is a contrast …
Obedience — It is Demanded of God’s People
I know. Obeying runs against the grain of what I want to do. Jesus demands that I am an obedient …
“What you believed could happen has happened.” ~Jesus
Jesus challenges me. Jesus wants me to believe. When I do, Jesus is loving, kind and faithful. Jesus wants to …
Slave — Am I a Slave or a Servant? Does it Matter?
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave (dŏulŏs) above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become …
“Escape quickly from the company of fools; they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.” ~King Solomon
Scripture portrays fools as those who have rejected God and his ways and are unable or unwilling to appreciate the …
Hell — Temptations to Miss God’s Goal (aka sin) Must be Dealt with Drastically
Do you believe in hell? It is interesting that a much higher percentage of people believe in the existence of …
Jesus didn’t call me to be Christian. He called me to be a disciple.
Jesus didn’t call me to be a Christian. He called me to be a disciple. Jesus is my Master teacher. …
“Why do you call me, ‘Master, Master,’ and do not do what I say?” ~Jesus
Jesus asks very penetrating questions of me. Jesus is patient. Jesus is waiting for my answer. What will I say? …
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” ~Jesus
Jesus continues His Manifesto (aka The Sermon on the Mount). Jesus is getting close to wrapping it up. Jesus doesn’t …
“Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” ~Jesus
There have been way too many times I have ignored getting some rest. I worked too many days in a …
“At just the right time, when we were still powerless, the Messiah died for the ungodly. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, the Messiah died for us” ~Apostle Paul
Good Friday, also known as “Holy Friday,” is the Friday immediately preceding Resurrection Sunday. It is celebrated traditionally as the day …
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” ~Jesus
Maundy Thursday, also known as “Holy Thursday,” is the Thursday of Passion Week, one day before Good Friday (the Friday before …
“I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” ~Jesus to the religious leaders
Some of the religious leaders [Pharisees] in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I …
“Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion.” ~King Solomon
Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, …
“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.” ~Jesus
If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll …
‘TWEEN GOD AND ME – Coat
Originally posted on Sweet aroma:
“Ooh, she looks cold,” I thought as I drove past the girl sitting on the bus…
“No one can escape the weather—it’s there. And no one can escape from God.” ~Elihu to Job
Elihu has been on a rant for several chapters now. Job’s friends take turns (and delight) in berating Job. He …
“But an independent witness confirms me, the most reliable Witness of all.” ~Jesus
Jesus is very clear in what he is saying to his disciples. Jesus knows it is not about Jesus. It …
“So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience.” ~Author of Hebrews
Are we ready for some rest? I know I am to rest. So here is a promise that is considered …
“Do you think you’re about to be promoted to heaven? Think again. You’re on a mudslide to hell.” ~~Jesus
Jesus spent a lot of time in the town of Capernaum. In speaking of them, He is direct in letting …
"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." ~~Oscar Wilde
Here we go. We are all in the same boat. Saint and sinner alike. I have a past and I …
“I couldn’t be more pleased—I’m so confident and proud of you.” ~Apostle Paul
As we start out on the journey with Jesus, it helps to have leaders who inspire us. Sure, I need …
Is God’s word important for my life? 3 important questions to answer.
Is God’s word important for my life? Am I living it out in my life? For most believers we read …
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” ~Jesus
Why? The words of Jesus haunt me. Why do I pretend that he is my Master and then not obey …
“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” ~Jesus
What does it take to be a part of God’s family? The answer is very straight forward. Jesus doesn’t hold …
“I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience.” ~Oswald Chambers
What can I do to get right with God? Nothing. Nada. Zip. Not a single solitary thing. I have the …
"When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on the cake and wine. You feast." ~~Jesus to religious leaders
The religious leaders of the day were constantly trying to trap Jesus. It didn’t work but it didn’t keep them …
“I was convinced at the time I wrote it that what was best for me was also best for you.” ~~Apostle Paul
What is the best thing to do? What does God want? Do I pray first or just do what I …
“God means what he says.” ~Author of Hebrews
How many times have I said something, meaning it, and then did not follow through? Too many times for sure. …
“Think of yourselves the way the Messiah Jesus thought of himself.” ~Apostle Paul
The birth of Jesus has special meaning. We must see it from the eyes of Jesus, our Messiah. We should …
Is my obedience not so much out of love as it is out of carefulness? “Just tell me what to do, God, and I’ll do it.”
Jesus told of the man who entrusted three of his servants with thousands of dollars, urging them to handle his …
“God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in.” ~King David
Jesus calls me to maturity and to be a friend. It is my obedience and worship of God that leads …
“Abraham went, even though he did not know where he was going.” ~Author of Hebrews
Worry is not faith. Faith is obedience. God says go. I must go. God has a goal in mind for me. …
“Grace doesn’t overlook sin, it empowers obedience.” ~~Bill Johnson
Grace leads us somewhere very important. It leads us to where Jesus wants us to go. Grace leads us to …
"The time has arrived when dead men will hear the voice of the Son of God and will come alive." ~~Jesus
Jesus offers me life. And He offers it now. I receive it by listening to His voice. Once I hear His voice …
Is God our friend?
We start out as slaves. Our path to maturity starts with servitude and obedience. I saw this in my relationship …
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” ~King David
Now here is a good word. What should I do? I should seek Jesus with my whole heart. David knew …
“So what difference does it make who’s religious and who isn’t?” ~Apostle Paul
It isn’t about who was raised in the church and has a religious background. Paul is clear on that. If …
“The reality test on whether or not we love God’s children is this: Do we love God?” ~Apostle John
I am a child of God. I believe that Jesus is the anointed one (the Messiah) who is in charge of God’s …
“Give the government what is theirs, and give God what is his.” ~Jesus
It is important for me not to confuse my obligations to my country and my obligations to God. God expects …
“The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” ~Jesus
Family is important. We think it is the most important thing. Jesus challenges me to understand that the most important …
"Neither he (the Son) nor the Father shuts anyone out." ~~Jesus
Jesus demands radical obedience from us but also brings good news. No one is shut out from God. All are …
“The great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you.” ~Jesus
Jesus, the Messiah and our Master, challenges to understand what is remarkable about this powerful life in the Spirit of …
““I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking.” ~Jesus
Powerful message from Francis Chan. Jesus, the Messiah and our Master, requires pretty much one thing. We must be obedient God. …
“Thanks for giving your lunch to God. He did something with it; it became the Bread of Life for me.” ~Max Lucado
Great story from Max Lucado. We never know how our faith in Jesus will pay off. Even when it makes …
” Jesus became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him.” ~Author of Hebews
Our mission is to obey King Jesus, the Messiah. This leads to our rescue which delivers us out of destruction …
“If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us.” ~~Oswald Chambers
Am I willing to let others experience pain because I am following Jesus? Obedience brings joy to the believer. To …
“Keep his commandments.” ~~Apostle John
It is fairly normal to question our relationship with God. Just think of Thomas. Jesus loved him and chose him …
“Though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do.” ~Author of Hebrews
How do we learn trusting-obedience? This is not an answer we want to hear. We learn trust and obedience by …
“Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient.” ~Author of Hebrews
We have the promise. It has not been fulfilled yet. We can receive it today even though in the past …
"I can’t do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide to act." ~~Jesus
Jesus only does what he hears the Father say to do. That is His standard for us as well. We …
"You can trust my decision because I’m not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders." ~~Jesus
Jesus can be trusted. Jesus doesn’t have a self serving bone in His body. Jesus only does what He sees the Father …
“Because Jesus honored God, God answered him.” ~Author of Hebrews
Jesus is all about doing what He sees His Father doing. He listens to God. Jesus doesn’t do anything without …
“Obedience is an act of faith; disobedience is the result of unbelief.” ~~Edwin Louis Cole
God asks us to have faith that He knows what is good for us. God then asks to act on …
Am I willing to suffer and mature? Will I rejoice and be happy?
Jesus, the Son of GOD, came to earth and suffered for us. Imagine that. Take a minute to think about …
"God has given His commands to us, but we pay no attention to them, … because we do not truly love and respect Him." ~~Oswald Chambers
Is it about obedience or is it about love? We like to think it is about obedience. That is the …
"But it wasn’t by any fancy footwork on our part" ~Apostle Paul
Paul depended on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to speak about the Good News. He depended on Jesus completely. While …
“You have set my heart free.” ~King David
Not only has He healed my heart, He has set it free. That freedom leads me to run in the …
"My Father is working straight through, even on the Sabbath. So am I." ~~Jesus
Jesus rattles the religious leaders. He does it all the time. It is intentional. No, I didn’t mean to do …
""All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning." ~~Oswald Chambers
We miss God’s goal for our life. We want to be God and decide what to do. There is a …
"A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." ~~King Solomon
Generosity is interesting. It brings a blessing back to me. That blessing takes many forms. The greatest is the joy …
"One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons." ~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer
We love to hear great speeches and sermons. They stir us. They get us thinking. Do they get us to …
"Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes." ~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Faith and obedience are joined together. You can’t separate them from each other. May I believe what God is telling …
"Wake yourself up and look to God." ~~Oswald Chambers
Jesus is clear that we need to look to God for everything. We get lost, we need to stop and …
“Obedience is thicker than blood.” ~~Jesus
Jesus is clear with us. The most important thing in our life is to obey God. That is it. That …
“Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” ~Apostle Paul
I need to wake up from my sleep. I need to get up out of my coffin. Jesus is showing …
"The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us." ~~Oswald Chambers
It is all about God. God is God. He will have His way, in us and in the world. It …
Exactly like Jesus says? Yes, that is our job.
Jesus has things he wants us to do. He gives us instructions. Do we do it exactly like He says? …
"My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God’s Word. Obedience is thicker than blood." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges us to see the reality of GOD’s World (Kingdom). Who is our family? Who are our mother’s, brothers …
“We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies.” ~Apostle Paul
All it takes is to watch the evening news to know we live in a massively corrupt culture. God’s goal …
“I’ll go. Send me.” ~Isaiah
Isaiah was an amazing man of God. He stood in God’s presence. He knew God intimately. One day he heard …
"But you weasel out of that by saying …." ~~Jesus
Jesus is direct with us about twisting God’s words and using them to our advantage. Jesus knows what His Father …
“Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience.” ~Oswald Chambers
When I see things from my world, I can fall into the trap that I can “dictate to God” how …
