Home / Posts tagged 'obedience'

• Foundations – Obedience – Part 1

  In Faithful, Happy, SeriousFaith, Teaching / 26 August 2009 / 0 comments

  (Click here to search for all the posts in this series…) 1 John 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. (NKJV) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)I am often asked by new, casual, lukewarm or struggling Christians “what are the basics of being a Christian?” I understand where they are coming from. Sometimes we just need some direction, some instructions… something we can get our mind around that is easy to understand so that we can begin to make real changes in our life.For the new Christian, these are obviously things they have never known. For others who may profess Christ, but show no signs of Him in their life, maybe they have never been taught [...]

   

• The Inside Is What Counts

  In Faithful, SeriousFaith, Teaching / 26 August 2009 / 0 comments

  Romans 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (NKJV) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)The Apostle Paul, in Romans chapter 2, makes the point that a true response to God comes from the heart, not from keeping an external checklist of rules, or of giving the “appearance” of obedience. Sometimes it is easy to casually read through this 2nd chapter of Romans making the quick (and incorrect!) assumption that Paul is talking about alot “Jewish” stuff (circumcision, law, etc.) that really doesn’t have anything to do with us today. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.There are [...]

   

• Come, Hear, Do

  In Faithful, SeriousFaith, Teaching / 26 August 2009 / 0 comments

  Luke 6:47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: (NKJV) (Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)The wise man built his house upon the rock… The wise man built his house upon the rock…This beloved little children’s song recalls the parable of the “Two Builders” in Matt 7 and the “Two Foundations” in Luke 6. On the surface, and rightly so, it seems to be a lesson about choosing to build your life based on the right things, the things of God. On closer examination, you will find it to be a lesson on obedience, and that obedience is what makes the “wise man” wise.Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, [...]

   

• Sought and Delivered

  In Contented, Faithful, Happy, SeriousFaith, Teaching / 26 August 2009 / 0 comments

  Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)I am amazed and embarrassed at how slow I am sometimes to turn to God FIRST, instead of as a last (or at least secondary) resort. Despite the fact that God has NEVER failed to comfort me, calm me, assure me and work all things out according to what He knows is best for me, I still have the aggravating habit of trying to handle life my way first, and then turning to God only after I mess it all up.When will we ever learn to turn to God first, instead of as a secondary option?For me, it’s not typical to get [...]

   

• How to Act Like a Christian

  In Faithful, SeriousFaith, Teaching / 26 August 2009 / 1 comment

  Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. (NKJV)(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)At the end of the 12th chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul gives us a rapid fire behavior checklist. It’s not a legalistic checklist by which we judge “good” Christians from “bad” Christians. It is a list of things by which we can measure our own personal standards, our own personal behavior and our own personal growth. It is a list to help us to grow, to add new Godly behavior to our lives, and to help us prune behavior that doesn’t comply.At this point in Romans, Paul has spent a lengthy time explaining salvation. In chapter 12 he opens by urging us [...]

   

• Knowing the Will of God -Questions – Part 8

  In Faithful, SeriousFaith, Teaching / 26 August 2009 / 0 comments

  (Click here to search for all the posts in this series…) 1 John 2:17 – And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJV)I wanted to wrap up the series on “Knowing the Will of God” by giving you a full summary of the series, along with a couple of closing questions. When trying to determine God’s will: First off, does God’s Word contain a plain and direct answer to your question or circumstance? You have to diligently and regularly search God’s Word and do the hard work of finding out God’s revealed, written Word (2Tim 2.15; Acts 17.11) If you find a direct and clear answer, then it simply boils down [...]