Monday, November 17, 2014

Obedience Starts In The Heart

My Utmost For His Highest
 
“My goal is God Himself…  At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.[…] There is no possibility of questioning God when He speaks, if He speaks to His own nature in me. Prompt obedience is the only result. When Jesus says, “Come,” I simply come; when He says, “Let go,” I let go; when He says, “Trust God in this matter,” I trust. This work of obedience is the evidence that the nature of God is in me. God’s revelation of Himself to me is influenced by my character, not by God’s character.[…] It is through the discipline of obedience that I get to the place where Abraham was and I see who God is. […] The promises of God are of no value to us until, through obedience, we come to understand the nature of God. We may read some things in the Bible every day for a year and they may mean nothing to us. Then, because we have been obedient to God in some small detail, we suddenly see what God means and His nature is instantly opened up to us. “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen…” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our “Yes” must be born of obedience; when by obedience we ratify a promise of God by saying, “Amen,” or, “So be it.” That promise becomes ours.” CHAMBERS
 
Our first act of obedience is when we say “yes” to God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ.  From that point, we have the power to live the life that God has purposed for us, but it still requires our decision to live that life.  It requires our obedience to the voice of the Spirit when He says “This is the way, walk in it.”  Every day we are faced with choices … do we choose God or choose the world. We can’t do both, but still we try.  The level of a Christian’s devotion is not measured by their emotion .. but their obedience.  Obedience starts in the heart.  It is evidenced in the simple things … the way you speak, the way to treat people, your response to life’s events.  Obedience is a reflection of faith … if your faith is weak … you obedience to God will be lacking … It is one thing to speak of our new life in Christ .. but another to live it …
 
The Navigator Ministry uses a wheel to describe what it takes to be obedient.  The hub is Christ, at the center.  The four spokes are the Word, Prayer, fellowship, and witnessing.  The outer rim is the result .. the obedient Christian life. To grow as a Christian .. to be “successful” in the fulfillment of what God has intended for you, you must listen and then do.  Merely listening and agreeing is not enough. Jesus asked Peter “Do you love Me?”  When Peter said “yes”, then Jesus said “show Me”.  He is saying the same thing to us.  It is time to stop making excuses … and put feet to our words. ELGIN
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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