If you have already accepted Jesus’ gift of Salvation,
obedience is the next gift on His list.
“And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying
the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the
fat of rams.”
I Samuel 15:22
Obedience is better than a fragrant sacrifice
to God.
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye
think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
John 5:39
God ask us to read our Bible
regularly. Daily is best, so that we
develop the habit. I do best if I have my daily devotions early in the morning before I eat and get moving, or I forget.
“For the word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
The Bible is a sword that we need to know
how to wield to defend ourselves against temptation and other fiery darts of
the Wicked One.
“Pray without ceasing.”
I Thessalonians 5:17
Don’t forget to pray continuously. Prayer is talking to God—a conversation. Learning to remember to pray throughout the day no matter what I'm doing is a constant battle, but it's one I need to fight to stay in communication with my Lord. We don’t just ask for what we want when we pray either, but that
God will show us what He wants us to do like Jesus did in the Garden of
Gethsemane.
“ And he went a little
farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be
possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou
wilt.
He went away again the second time, and
prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I
drink it, thy will be done.”
Matthew 26:39, 42
Those of us who know the Good News of
Christ’s Gift of Salvation need to not be selfish and share it. This is commanded of us in the Great
Commission.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Others should also be able to see Jesus in us by the
changes that having Him in our hearts have brought about. Our attitude and language are just some of
the differences they might see and wonder about it enough to ask what made the
change. We are examples.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
II Corinthians 5:17
Being examples of how Followers of Christ act is a big responsibility. We're still human, and we're still going to make mistakes sometimes. Jesus is there to forgive us though when we do something wrong, and with His help, we can be more like Him each passing day if we just ask Him.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Philippians 4:13
