Obedience To God

Obedience to God

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

Not only what we talk about, but what we think about is screened by the Lord. Is it acceptable to the Lord?
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"It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night." I Samuel 15:11

Saul's problem is a common one. He thought his "overall performance" was good enough to see him through. All the while, God was placing the emphasis on obedience to specific directives. God has not changed. "to obey is better than sacrifice." (I Samuel 15:22)

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"I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. Genesis 31:13

God has a running account of our kept and forgotten vows, and so often as the occasion arises, He calls for their fulfillment.

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"And the Lord said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image." Deuteronomy 9:12

Humanity has not changed. When we lose touch with the true and living God, we start making our own. "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Luke 4:8)

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"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." St. John 16:13

One of our great problems is that we ask God for answers and guidance and then debate Him over His response. "Whatsoever he saith to you, do it." "We ought to obey God."

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"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." I Corinthians 10:31

Here is the argument settler. If you can't do a thing in accordance with His Word and will, don't do it. "Not my will, but thine, be done."

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"...And that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient." Exodus 24:7

God's paths are clear. It is our dull hearing that gets us into trouble. "Obedience is better than sacrifice." "We ought to obey God rather than man."

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"But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you." Jeremiah 7:23

Here is a condition and a promise that we cannot afford to ignore if we are to live happy and fruitful lives.

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"And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." St. Mark 1:17

Jesus beckons us to the world's greatest business. Only in eternity will we see just how great. Stop what you are doing and follow Jesus in this, the most rewarding work of all! "He that winneth souls is wise."

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"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." St. Matthew 25:21

Contrary to what we sometimes think, we will be rewarded not for our success but on the basis of our faithfulness. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

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