Tag Archive | obedience

No Excuses

Jan30

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. — Romans 2:1-11

Do not judge so that you will not be judged.  For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. — Matthew 7:1-2

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” — Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Christ Jesus

Jan22

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; — Romans 1:1-6

In the opening of Paul’s letter it is amazing, to me, what Paul reveals about Jesus. He is:

v.1 Christ which means Messiah
v.2 the promise of God
v.2 Revelation
v.3 Son of God
v.3 God in the flesh
v.4 Holy
v.4 Lord
v.4 Power
v.4 The Resurrection (Savior)
v.5 Our Grace

Paul mentions 3 descriptions of himself. How often in our speech is Jesus exalted above ourselves? He is the reason we speak at all. Are we being good apostles, followers, for His name’s sake?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Get Up And Go

Dec1

And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,  15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; — Acts 9:11, 15-18

It is the Lord Jesus who does the saving. Saul prayed. How many of us have been at dire straits and called out to the Lord in prayer? Jesus called on Ananias to go to see Saul. How many of us have heard the call of God to go and witness to others? Ananias obeyed Jesus and went to Saul. Ananias laid hands on Saul , but Jesus did the work. How many opportunities have we passed by not obeying God and going and sharing the gospel with somebody who needs it?

Jesus can do His work without us but isn’t it an honor and a privilege that He asks us to be a part of the salvation of others?

Can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Ananias had not obeyed the call or Paul had not prayed. You can make a difference in the life of others. Are you listening to the call of God?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Word Of God

Nov21

The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. — Acts 6:7

The Word is for everyone. The Word makes disciples. The Word reveals truth drawing even those who thought they knew the truth.

The Word is powerful! Read it. Know it. Share it.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Obedience And The Holy Spirit

Nov18

When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus,whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” — Acts 5:27-32

Here we find Peter before the Council again with not just John but the”apostles” also. I love the fact that they shared the gospel message here before the Council. The circumstance did not dictate where or when they shared. They shared because “we must obey God rather than men”.

How important is obedience? The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey as a living witness in them. How we tend to miss that. Could that be why we are not effective witnesses for Christ? We are quick to come to salvation, for eternal well being, but when it comes to obedience that is another story. Could our disobedience quench the witness of the Holy Spirit* in us?

The apostles had no problem sharing the gospel wherever they happened to be by the power of the Holy Spirit by obedience to God. How’s the obedience factor going in your life?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

To Speak Or Not

Nov16

And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” — Acts 4:18-20

Do you ever think about what your response would be if confronted by the law and told not to share Jesus? Has Jesus made such an impression in your life that you are willing to risk imprisonment, ridicule, your very life? Is Jesus so alive in your life that you can’t stop speaking of what you have seen and heard?

If not, what needs to change about your walk with the Lord? Are you reading His Word, seeking Him through prayer, loving Him with ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength and heeding His words in obedience?

Today is the day to make a change. Take time during worship to come face to face with where you are spiritually and humble yourself before the mighty God confessing, repenting and let the healing begin to bring you back into a right relationship with God so that you are effective for His glory.

God bless your worship today.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

I Give You Jesus

Nov11

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”  And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. — Acts 3:1-10

But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” We, who have Jesus as our Savior and Lord, have something to give the world more precious than silver and gold. Hope, power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Himself. When we live under the authority and power of God people will be amazed. Lives will experience transformation that will bring about praise to God. The evidence of the work of God is recognizable because the result is glory and praise to God.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Concerning Grace

Oct31

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! — Romans 6:14-15

May it never be!? But don’t we take advantage of God’s grace? A gift through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Himself! And then knowingly, blatantly sin, making excuses for our sin? It’s as if we are mocking Him and spitting on Him*.

Let me give you an example that I was convicted by.
[Be Subject to Government] Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Romans 13:1)

Does that include the speed limit? “It’s okay to go over by 5 mph because the police won’t stop you for that”. Doesn’t “Go with the flow of traffic” sound the same as saying “everyone else is doing it”? Are the police our authority or is God and His Word? (If God and His Word, then we ultimately obey the police and the law of the land).

There are many more examples as we travel through our day when we have opportunity to obey or take advantage of God’s grace by not living up to God’s standard but the standard of man. Hopefully we are now more aware of our responsibility concerning the wonderful, sacrificial gift of grace.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

*Mark 10:34

The Greatest Thing In All My Life: Loving You

Oct28

Mark Pendergrass
The greatest thing in all my life is loving You.
The greatest thing in all my life is loving You.
I want to love You more; I want to love you more.
The greatest thing in all my life is loving You.

http://music4christ.cjb.net

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” — Luke 10:27

by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” — Deuteronomy 30:20

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, — Daniel 9:4

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Amazement

Oct22

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; — Luke 5:4-9

It is amazing what God can do when we obey and let Him work through us. This testimony of Simon Peter’s encounter with Jesus tells us just that. Peter worked, along with others, all night and caught nothing. Under their own power they worked very hard through the night. I am pretty sure they felt defeated, tired and lacking hope. What changed that next morning? Jesus instructed, they obeyed and the outcome was plentiful.

They were amazed and Peter humbly fell down at Jesus’ feet. God’s power is bigger, better, stronger and more productive than ours. Our reliance on Jesus as He works through us will keep us amazed at what He can do with a willing, humble and obedient heart and soul. Do you want to be amazed? Let Jesus work in you.

This amazing event was only a taste of what Jesus had planned for Peter and the disciples. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” (Luke 5:10b) Can you only imagine what our Lord can do through you to catch men for His sake? These fish that Peter and the others caught are slim pickins compared to what Jesus can do through us to reach a lost and dying world.

Be amazed!!!! Start by obediently following the Lord Jesus.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon