Word for Today, Mon, 05 Sep 2005: Obedience is Important
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Are you resting from your labors on Labor Day? I am. Though I
did not sleep in quite as long as I may have liked to, following
a busy week of work, my children saw the morning as a great time
to get up and frolic. Hmm, now I see how my parents felt those
many years ago! It reminds me of a few of the things that I can
be thankful for, good parents, family, children.
The Bible places a lot of emphasis on families, teaching good
habits and how to be obedient. In fact, in this week's
collection of Weekly Verses from Phil Ware, the Bible has a lot
to say about what we ought to be doing. We ought to get our own
lives right with God.
First and foremost, God wants a personal relationship with each
one of us. Without that, everything else is pure vanity, nothing
more, and it loses meaning and purpose. Driven by our love of
God, however, reaching others for Him takes on meaning and
purpose. Being obedient is meaningful when we are obedient out
of love instead of a grudging obedience. Seeking to be taught
takes on fresh meaning, because we want to be as much like our
God as we can.
I have a young son. He truly wants to be as much like Daddy as
he can be. I want to be as much like my God as I can be, too.
My own father was a very good model of balance and consistency.
He was a man, so he had his own character flaws, of course, but
he was a man worthy of respect, and he was someone many people
looked up to. As he got older, children flocked to him. They
knew that Grandpa Walt always had some hard candies or some
goodies handy to share with them. He also liked to tussle and
play around with children and encourage them in healthy ways.
What are we like? Do we encourage others? Do we set a good
example for others? Do we get our own source of strength from
our Heavenly Father? Is God our real source of hope? I pray
that He is.
Once again, I pray that you all read your Bibles. The Bible is
God's inspired Word for each of us. It tells us about the very
nature and ways of God. The Bible will never reveal everything
about God. Some things will never be known until we are face to
face with God. However, the Bible is the very spoken Word of
God, and it is God's chosen way to reveal Himself to us. Since
that is the case, how can we do anything else but read the Word
and obey it?
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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Crosswalk - Weekly Verses, September 5, 2005
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Weekly Verses
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http://www.crosswalkmail.com/itgtdgd_pgpziz.html
Monday, September 5
[Jesus said,] "All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age."
--Matthew 28:18-20
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Last words. The last words of a parent to a child leaving
for college. The last words of a loved one at the bedside of
someone dying. The last words of a friend before moving to a
distant place. These last words are chosen with care because
they leave a lasting impact. Jesus' last words are our
marching orders. "Go make disciples of all peoples! To do
this," he emphasized, "you must go where they are, baptize
them, and then teach them to do what I taught you to do." Not
hard to understand, so what are we doing about obeying those
last commands?
MY PRAYER...
Father from whom all peoples derive their hope, use your
Spirit to rouse within me a passion to share your grace with
all peoples. Nudge me out of my safety zone and call me into
your empowering and sacrificial grace so that I help others
come to know you. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Tuesday, September 6
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.
My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our
home with him."
--John 14:23
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
At many Christian funerals, the preacher emphasizes how
Jesus has left to make a place ready for us to join him in
heaven. Then he is going to come back for us. But just a few
verses later, Jesus adds this promise. He's telling us that
until we can come be with him at his place, he will come live
with us here in our hearts. It all hinges on one thing, our
willingness to obey him. Not a bad deal, is it. So let's not
let obedience be a forgotten word in our lifestyle!
MY PRAYER...
Holy God, I know Jesus came to earth and obeyed your will.
Give me discernment that my obedience will not simply be the
obedience of your words, but will also be the obedience of your
will. I long to honor you because you have done so much to
save me. Thank you. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Wednesday, September 7
We proclaim him [Jesus], admonishing and teaching everyone with
all wisdom, so that we present everyone perfect in Christ.
--Colossians 1:28
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Our goal as Christians is not to obey some law, to adhere to
some set of rules, or even be followers of some discipline.
Our goal as Christians is to be conformed to the character and
ministry of Jesus. This is the Spirit's work in us (2 Cor.
3:18) and as Paul makes clear here and in other places
(Galatians 4:19) that this is his goal in working with others.
MY PRAYER...
Holy Lord, conform my heart, my words, my life, my ministry,
and my actions to those of Jesus. I want him to be my Lord,
not just in my words but also in my life. Through him I pray.
Amen.
Thursday, September 8
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good
Spirit lead me on level ground.
--Psalm 143:10
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
We want the Spirit to be at work in us to make us like
Jesus. For this to happen, we must open our heart to the will
of God. There are no greater words God wants to hear than
"teach me to do your will." That is what it means for him to
be God, to have control over our life and our will.
MY PRAYER...
Almighty God, I want you to truly be God in my life. I
renounce any attempt on my part to try to manipulate or use
your grace and kindness for my benefit. I submit my will to
yours. But Holy Father, I confess that I struggle at times
with my own selfish and evil desires that lead me astray.
Please forgive me when my heart is cold and my ears are deaf to
your will. Please, take control of my life today. Through
Jesus my Lord, I ask you to assert your will as God in my life.
Amen.
Friday, September 9
Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect,
self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.
--Titus 2:2
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Worthy of respect! What a goal for our lives whether we are
men or women! Don't you want your life to reflect the
character of God because our faith expresses itself in a life
of self-control. This work of the Spirit in our lives happens
only as we dedicate ourselves to being what he is at work
trying to accomplish in us.
MY PRAYER...
Father, please strengthen me through your Spirit so that I
may gain better control of my passions, my speech, my example,
and my habits. Help me put to death the things that would rob
me of my spiritual passion and my influence for good to those
who do not know Jesus. Through whom I pray. Amen.
Saturday, September 10
[The Lord says,] "Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he,
I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry
you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
--Isaiah 46:4
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
God will not forget us when we're in trouble or when we are
old. We may outlive our friends and be forgotten by those who
know us, but God will never leave us or forsake us. He will
sustain, carry, protect, and rescue us.
MY PRAYER...
Thank you my Father, for promising to never forget me.
Because of your faithfulness to your children of old, I know
you will never forsake me. I trust that no matter where I am
or where I go, you will go with me. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
Sunday, September 11
I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
--Psalm 121:1-2
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
In a world of startling beauty and a universe of dazzling
diversity, our hearts are to be drawn back to the One who made
it and now sustains it. He knows us and will help us if we
will believe what he has tried so many ways to say: "I love
you as my child and I care what happens to you and those you
love."
MY PRAYER...
Almighty Creator, Majestic Architect and Eternal Engineer,
it absolutely bewilders and delights me to know that you care
for me. With all the things of such vast importance, I find
your desire to know and love me humbling and assuring. Today I
will worship, work, and witness while being aware of your
presence and care. Thank you, dear Father, in Jesus name.
Amen.
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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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