Obedience versus Relationship

 

Obedience to God is all about relationship
By James Washington For The St. Louis American



I’m sure I’ve written on this before, but I thought the significance of obedience was important enough to repeat here. It occurs to me that obedience to God is, or certainly should be, an exercise in ‘want to’ as opposed to ‘have to.’

The analogy given in church is simple enough. When parents enforce rules and discipline with regard to their children, if the child is to respond out of respect and love, a relationship must exist between parent and child.


If a wholesome relationship does indeed exist, then the child’s love for the parent will result in that child wanting to comply.

If all one does is obey the rules because of the consequences and punishment associated with disobeying the rules, then the rules generally get thrown out the window when the rule-maker is no longer around.

I guess what I’m saying is that when grounded in love, people want to respond favorably according to the wishes and will of the person who is the object of that love. By our very nature we want to look good in the eyes of someone we’re trying to impress.

Jesus says, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.’’ John 14:23.

Examine this use of the term “obey.” What Christ is saying is the same thing that many a mother and a father believe about their kids.

First and foremost, we all know the things that would upset mom and dad. We know this because they spent a lifetime (yours) instilling values and integrity into your character.

You might still do things they wouldn’t condone, but you certainly know the difference between the right and wrong of it because of your upbringing. That upbringing, if nurtured in the spirit of love, reveals to all of us the source and nature of the consequences and the resulting discipline.

It’s all about love. Y’all know that ‘this is going to hurt me more than it’s gonna hurt you’ thing.



Christ is merely reminding us that if you love him, then obeying his rules, his teachings, which were given to us out of the love of the Father, should come from the heart. Our desire to please should override our mere compliance to the rules.

The point is obedience to God has so much more to do with wanting to do the right thing for the right reason, than doing the right thing because it is law, punishment notwithstanding.

One is the result of relationship and the other is the result of fear of consequence.

Throughout scripture, Jesus constantly refers to the love of the Father. How many of you do what your mother would expect of you and your mother has been dead for many a year? How many of you pass those same expectations along to your kids? Why?

I submit that you do this because of the relationship you had/have with your mother. That’s why I’m convinced that the key to understanding obedience to God is establishing, or for many of us re-establishing, a relationship with the Almighty. This is achieved by studying his word, getting inside of his commandments and examining the life of Jesus Christ, who because of a love thing with his Father, carried out Hhs Father’s wishes to the letter.

“I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.’’ John 14:30-31.

To obey should be an act of love. Our goal should be to understand God’s love for us and to simply do our best to return it; acting accordingly, so to speak.

May God bless and keep you always.

There Will Be a Day

 

There Will Be a Day :: By Dennis Huebshman
Published on: July 12, 2022 by Admin10 Category:General Articles


From Matthew 24:6a-8; “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars…. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”

Luke 21:11 expands on this; “There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from Heaven.”

Going on to Luke 21:26-28, “people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (ESV – all emphasis mine)

Even though we see what we believe are the “beginnings” of the above signs, they represent a part of the Tribulation/Wrath 7-year period of time spoken of in Daniel and Revelation. Some may try to say we are already in that time, but as 2 Thessalonians 2 tells us, the antichrist or “lawless one” cannot appear until the force that restrains this “mystery of lawlessness” is out of the way. He represents the actual time of the Tribulation that starts right after he gets a 7-year peace treaty signed with Israel and the rest of the world.

For those who are true believers in Jesus as their Savior, what we are seeing are signs that tell us we will be leaving here soon. The prelude that is taking place could be classified as insignificant compared to what will happen after we’re gone and when Satan’s forces are fully released on this earth. That movement is presently gaining ground, and the changes taking place are troubling. It’s difficult to imagine just how much worse it can get.

It has been said that the United States, which has been a considerably strong force in the world up to now, is not mentioned in end-times prophecies. Looking at the worldwide view of this country today, events that have taken place very recently have taken our reputation down. As our strength and status get less and less in the world’s eyes, this country is being prepared to be absorbed into a “new world order” led by a “one-world government” of which there will be no real lead nation. The really sad part is, our population that will be here will be ready for this to happen and will willingly accept the change.

It is no accident that the current administration of the U.S. is in office. God put them there and is not surprised by anything that is taking place. In fact, He is allowing it to happen according to His ultimate plan. In Philippians 4:6-7, we’re told, “do not be anxious about anything, but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Seems simple, but the Father knows all of our concerns. We need to realize Satan’s forces are constantly at work, and anyone who is a follower of Jesus is being called a “hater.” Because we do not accept the abominations that some lifestyles are indulging in, it does not mean we hate the people. Jesus told us to love all our brothers and sisters because each one has an immortal soul, but that does not mean we have to accept their lifestyles. He will accept anyone who will repent and call on Him to save them from eternal condemnation.

For all who have received and accepted Jesus as our Savior, our eternity is set. God does not make promises that He will not keep (Titus 1:2). An event described by the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, commonly called the Rapture, will take place. It is to keep all the Shepherd’s flock from going through the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and Revelation 3:10). We were told this would take place before the Tribulation, and I, for one, am eagerly looking forward to it.

In the meantime, we do not need to be just waiting and doing nothing. We need to be in prayer daily, asking the Holy Spirit to touch the hearts of any loved ones who are not truly saved. It wouldn’t be too much to pray this more than once a day. Being a “prayer warrior” is special, and the effects can be amazing.

There will be those who will choose this world over all else. Jesus knew that more would accept their current lifestyle and not be prepared for eternity. He spoke of the two pathways in Matthew 7:13-14. He stated the path to eternal life is narrow, and there would be few on it. Our hope is that through our prayers, we may get some of those lost souls off the broad path that leads to eternal destruction.

The day is coming soon, and our Jesus will be calling us up to meet Him in the air. This will not be the occasion that takes place at the end of the Tribulation where they will “see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Actually, the Rapture will be over in considerably less than one second.

Jeremy Camp wrote and released a song in 2008 called “There Will Be a Day.” It is a testimony to the promise of the Lord to take us Home. It’s a day that all Jesus’ followers are waiting for, and the Father knows we are longing for it. Please consider the message.

1.) I try to hold on to this world with everything I have. But I feel the weight of what it brings and the hurt that tries to grab, The many trials that seem to never end. His word declares the truth that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew.

(ref) But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings, That there will be a place with no more suffering. There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more. We’ll see Jesus face-to-face, but until that day, we’ll hold on to You always.

2.) I know the journey seems so long; you feel like you’re walking on your own. But there has never been a step where you walked out all alone. Troubled soul, don’t lose your heart, ’cause joy and peace He brings, and the beauty that’s in store outweighs the hurt of life’s sting. (ref)

3.) I can’t wait until that day, where the very One I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced (wipe away the tears), to touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery; Oh, this is why, this is why I sing.

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more. We’ll see Jesus face-to-face (x2). There will be a day He will wipe away the tears; He will wipe away the tears; He will wipe away the tears; and there will be a day.

For all who have received and accepted Jesus, we know that we will not be here much longer. As another song line stated, “All my trials, Lord, soon be over.” Once we’re Home, all this will be lost in the past.

For all who have not chosen Jesus as their Savior, please read Romans 10:9-13 for the simple steps to do so. Consider that the Son of the Living God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, has provided you with the opportunity to have eternal life with Him for the asking. He paid our passage in full with His precious blood shed on crucifixion day. He conquered sin and death on resurrection day.

The alternative is to be forever separated from Him in a place of darkness, and there will be no relief ever. He is available 24-7 to receive your call, and please know you have not sinned so greatly that He won’t forgive and accept you if you truly ask Him to be your Savior.

It’s absolutely each individual’s choice of where they will spend eternity. Please choose wisely; please choose soon. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, and that could be the day and time the Father has chosen.

Come, Lord Jesus!

Be Careful What You Consume

                                   from the blog Breaking The Chains Biblical Recovery Ministry . . . . . . .


June 4, 2020 | BtCBRM | Make A Comment | Red Flags and Warning Signs

The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps. (Proverbs 14:15)

Every Spring we have problems with ants and once our peonies bloom, they become more of a problem. A few days ago I noticed several very small ants in our kitchen behind our faucet, scouting for food. I went to the cabinet and pulled out an ant bait. I laid it on the area behind the faucet and dripped some onto that counter and continued with my work. Periodically I’d come back and see that they were checking it out and eating some of it. By the next morning, I saw a few ants laying around the area like they were in a coma while the others must have gone back to the nest. I left both the ant bait and the ants alone and continued on with my day. At night I poured a little more out as there were now more ants coming around it and then I went to bed. By yesterday morning there was an army of little ants all over the poison. I even watched some walk around the ones that were now dead and laying there. As I watched the ants eat the poison, and knowing that I had a few plates sitting right beside the sink that had some crumbs of good food left on them, I thought “they are distracted from finding the good food and are eating the bait without even realizing they are being poisoned”. If the ants would have scouted a bit further, they would have found the proper nourishment that could have kept them alive, but they ate the sweet poison instead. The ants were drawn to the bait because it appealed to them through their senses. It’s sweet and easier to consume and bring back to the nest and share it with the other ants. This bait is very effective and the ants will leave a trail of the bait for other ants in the colony to follow to the new food supply. In the meantime, the main poisonous ingredient is messing with their digestive system and slowly killing them. Due to its delayed effect, it gives the ants enough time to bring the poison back to their home, their colony, and share it with the other ants. Even when some of the ants die, their bodies will still emit the poison, further causing the living ants to be poisoned and eventually die. Instead of the ant having control over my house, the bait I used allowed me to have control over the ant colony without even going outside to look for it. I simply had to use something that appealed to their senses and they did the rest by sharing it with the other ants. At this point, I probably sound like an evil person, but I’m not. I just don’t want ants overtaking my house.

The ant really is a remarkable creature. They are hard workers, planning and preparing for the future. They store or invest what they have gathered through the summer to supply them for the winter (lean months). They work together to accomplish the mission. However, the one flaw they seemed to have (which I’m sure there are others) is that they couldn’t detect the poison in the ant bait. The liquid looked good, smelled good and tasted good to them, therefore appealing to what they like through their senses, but it was poisonous. Because they thought it was good food, they shared it with other ants in their colony, therefore poisoning the rest of the ants. They simply could not detect the difference between good food and poisonous food that was being given to them and by not knowing the difference, it cost them their lives and the lives inside their colony.

If this can happen to ants, how much more can it happen to us? Are you able to detect when you are being “fed” something good or something poisonous both spiritually and in your day to day life? Can you tell the difference? Can you tell if you are being baited by a person, a situation or the enemy? Proverbs 14:15 states:

The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps.

Proverbs 22:3 states:

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

The word, simple, means one who is naïve or lacks wisdom. A prudent person is one who is wise, careful and cautious. We are called to be wise, careful and discerning. Where do we find wisdom and discernment? From God!

James 1:5-6:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

When we ask God for wisdom and discernment, this will eliminate the chance of following our thoughts and flesh or a direction others wish for us to go into that could harm us or those around us. We must be careful not to consume anything that may be false which can lead us in a wrong direction and possibly take others with us. This can happen through false teachings, media, gossip, opinions, etc. We must investigate what we are being fed and compare it to the Word of God. Is it godly? Is it considered gossip? Does it promote good change or destruction? Is it safe or dangerous? It’s imperative that we bring what we hear or see before the Lord and seek His wisdom and discernment on it when we are unsure. We must seek Him for guidance and truth.

Psalm 32:8:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

We must realize that the enemy will take every opportunity to draw us away from God and jeopardize our walk with Him. In 1 Peter 5:8 we are warned of this and to be alert for it:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

He will try to entice us, or bait us, through our senses by what we see and/or hear. He knows how to manipulate through utilizing our environment because he knows what buttons to push in us that will cause us to react. In other words, he knows how to get to our flesh. He can do this utilizing our surroundings, our weaknesses, people, and what we like or dislike. He can utilize other people or situations to tempt us away from doing what is right which can eventually cause us to justify our incorrect thoughts or actions.

We must walk with two feet in the spirit, not one foot in the spirit and one foot in the world. By doing the latter, it will be difficult for us to know truth from lie because we are ingesting worldly views, causing us to be double minded, which will slowly kill us.

Galatians 5:24-26:

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Take a moment to think about what you are feeding upon and consuming. Is it Godly or is it worldly? How is it affecting you? Does it cause you anger and misery or joy and peace? Will it produce a good outcome or harm to yourself or others? Does it fall in line with the Word of God or the world?

Whatever your concerns are, take it to the Lord and ask for His wisdom, guidance and truth on the matter. Then be patient and wait for His answer. You won’t be disappointed.