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    Analysis of Obedience 

    by
    David Hersey
    Published on 05-13-10 08:25 PM

    This is my lesson for Bible study this morning. Tear it apart for me so I can fix any mistakes or add anything relevant to it. Thanks

    Analysis of Obedience

    We are taught in scripture that only those who do the will of the Father in heaven will enter the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21). Obedience to the will of God is therefore a life and death matter for the Christian who would live his or her life in pleasing manner before God. Jesus went on to teach the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7, starting in verse 24. He said, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it".

    In our previous lesson we learned that we are to obey direct and implied commands and approved examples. we also learned that it is vitally important not to add anything or take anything away from what inspiration recorded for us. If it were permitted to add or remove things from scripture then we could change anything we wanted in the word and do anything we desired and still expect to live our lives acceptably before God. Paul taught the Romans that we cannot approach God with our own righteousness. We must submit to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3). The commandments of men make our worship vain (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7), so we know that the only way we can be assured of living after God's righteousness is to follow his commandments explicitly, adding nothing to, nor taking anything away from them.

    In this study, we are going to examine what obedience is from a Biblical perspective, what it means, how it works for us, how to approach it and why. Solomon wrote, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Since obedience is the duty of man, we need to give attention to this topic and determine what the Lord expects from us in obedience.

    What Obedience is:

    Hearing the word of God precedes obedience. Until one hears the word of God, one cannot know what God wants obeyed. In the OT, Samuel wrote: "Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me" (2 Samuel 22:45). In the NT, Paul wrote of the commandment of God which was made known to all nations of the earth for the "obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26). Everything we do, every commandment we obey is by and because of our faith in God. Faith and obedience are inseparable in scripture. Those who have faith obey and those who obey have faith. On the other side, those who do not have faith do not obey and those who do not obey, do not have faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

    In Psalm 18:44, inspiration says, "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. Obedience is connected with submission and humility. In Philippians 2:8, Paul wrote "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross". Jesus was willing to suffer the humiliation of the cross in order to be obedient to God the Father. We are commanded to submit to the authority of God. James wrote, "Submit yourselves therefore to God" (James 4:7). Submission and humility means doing it God's way, in the way He has prescribed, completely and without pride. Those who obey, submit in humble penitence to the authority of God. Those who do not obey have not submitted. Obedience is submission and submission is necessary for obedience. Disobedience is rebellion to God as King Saul learned when he refused to obey the commandment of the Lord, (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Obedience and submission cannot be separated.

    Obedience is a yielding, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (Romans 6:16-18). We are going to yield to something in life. We are going to be the servants of something, either good or evil, either righteousness or sin. We are going to serve someone in this life, either God or Satan. One cannot have obedience without yielding, neither can there be a yielding without obedience. The two cannot be separated. We must have one in order to have the other.

    Obedience is motivated by love. Jesus said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings..." (John 14:23-24). Our love is demonstrated through our actions, "I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love." (2 Corinthians 8:8). Claiming to love God and each other but not demonstrating that love is not the kind of love God requires. God requires our love to be sincere and to prove that sincerity through actions "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him" (1 John 3:18-19).

    Obedience comes from a pure heart, "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5). "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22). "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you" (Romans 6:16). Obedience and a pure heart cannot be separated. One cannot have a pure heart without obedience, likewise one cannot be obedient without a pure heart and expect God to be pleased.


    Obedience acts without question. Abraham gave us two examples of obedience without question when he was commanded to get up and leave his country and then when he was told to get out of his country, leave his kinsmen and go into a land that God would show him when he got there (Genesis 12:1). "So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him" (Genesis 12:4). After his son Isaac was born, God commanded him to offer him up as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:2). Hebrews 11:17 records that, "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son". Abraham did not try and back out of obeying God. When God commanded, Abraham acted and left us an example of trusting obedience.

    Obedience is a trial. As we saw earlier, Abraham was tested by God to see if he would obey. "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son" (Hebrews 11:17). James wrote concerning trials, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2-5). we can expect our obedience to produce trials in our life. One cannot successfully overcome trials without obedience.
    Obedience requires sacrifice. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). One cannot offer one's body a living sacrifice without obedience to God's will. "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:3). Obedience and sacrifice are inseparable in scripture. One cannot have one without the other.

    Obedience is Faith. "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26). Hebrews 11 is sometimes called the great hall of faith. It lists numerous Biblical characters who by faith, were obedient to the will of God, who did what God commanded and were blessed for it. Faith and Obedience are inseparable in scripture. One cannot have faith without obedience and one cannot have obedience without faith. "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:18).
    The Necessity of Obedience:

    Obedience is necessary if we love God, Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).

    Obedience is necessary of we say we know God. John wrote, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4).

    Obedience is necessary if we love one another, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments" (1 John 5:2).

    Obedience is necessary for purification, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Peter 1:22).
    Obedience is necessary for Salvation, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).

    The Results of Obedience:
    Obedience results in the reception of God's grace, "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name" (Romans 1:5).

    Analysis of Obedience

    We are taught in scripture that only those who do the will of the Father in heaven will enter the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21). Obedience to the will of God is therefore a life and death matter for the Christian who would live his or her life in pleasing manner before God. Jesus went on to teach the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7, starting in verse 24. He said, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it".

    In our previous lesson we learned that we are to obey direct commands, approved examples and necessary inferences. we also learned that it is vitally important not to add anything or take anything away from what inspiration recorded for us. If it were permitted to add anything to scripture then we could add anything we wanted and do anything we wanted and still expect to live our lives acceptably before God. Paul taught the Romans that we cannot approach God with our own righteousness. We must submit to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3). The commandments of men make our worship vain (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7), so we know that the only way we can be assured of living after God's righteousness is to follow his commandments explicitly, adding nothing to, nor taking anything away from them.

    What Obedience is:

    Hearing the word of God precedes obedience. Until one hears the word of God, one cannot know what God wants obeyed. In the OT, Samuel wrote: "Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me" (2 Samuel 22:45). In the NT, Paul wrote of the commandment of God which was made known to all nations of the earth for the "obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26). Everything we do, every commandment we obey is by and because of our faith in God. Faith and obedience are inseparable in scripture. Those who have faith obey and those who obey have faith. On the other side, those who do not have faith do not obey and those who do not obey, do not have faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

    In Psalm 18:44, inspiration says, "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. Obedience is connected with submission and humility. In Philippians 2:8, Paul wrote "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross". Jesus was willing to suffer the humiliation of the cross in order to be obedient to God the Father. We are commanded to submit to the authority of God. James wrote, "Submit yourselves therefore to God" (James 4:7). Submission and humility means doing it God's way, in the way He has prescribed, completely and without pride. Those who obey, submit in humble penitence to the authority of God. Those who do not obey have not submitted. Obedience is submission and submission is necessary for obedience. Disobedience is rebellion to God as King Saul learned when he refused to obey the commandment of the Lord, (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Obedience and submission cannot be separated.

    Obedience is a yielding, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (Romans 6:16-18). We are going to yield to something in life. We are going to be the servants of something, either good or evil, either righteousness or sin. We are going to serve someone in this life, either God or Satan. One cannot have obedience without yielding, neither can there be a yielding without obedience. The two cannot be separated. We must have one in order to have the other.

    Obedience is motivated by love. Jesus said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings..." (John 14:23-24). Our love is demonstrated through our actions, "I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love." (2 Corinthians 8:8). Claiming to love God and each other but not demonstrating that love is not the kind of love God requires. God requires our love to be sincere and to prove that sincerity through actions "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him" (1 John 3:18-19).

    Obedience comes from a pure heart, "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5). "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22). "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you" (Romans 6:16). Obedience and a pure heart cannot be separated. One cannot have a pure heart without obedience, likewise one cannot be obedient without a pure heart and expect God to be pleased.

    Obedience acts without question. Abraham gave us two examples of obedience without question when he was commanded to get up and leave his country and then when he was told to get out of his country, leave his kinsmen and go into a land that God would show him when he got there (Genesis 12:1). "So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him" (Genesis 12:4). After his son Isaac was born, God commanded him to offer him up as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:2). Hebrews 11:17 records that, "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son". Abraham did not try and back out of obeying God. When God commanded, Abraham acted and left us an example of trusting obedience.

    Obedience is a trial. As we saw earlier, Abraham was tested by God to see if he would obey. "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son" (Hebrews 11:17). James wrote concerning trials, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2-5). we can expect our obedience to produce trials in our life. One cannot successfully overcome trials without obedience.

    Obedience requires sacrifice. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). One cannot offer one's body a living sacrifice without obedience to God's will. "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:3). Obedience and sacrifice are inseparable in scripture. One cannot have one without the other.

    Obedience is Faith. "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26). Hebrews 11 is sometimes called the great hall of faith. It lists numerous Biblical characters who by faith, were obedient to the will of God, who did what God commanded and were blessed for it. Faith and Obedience are inseparable in scripture. One cannot have faith without obedience and one cannot have obedience without faith. "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:18).

    The Necessity of Obedience:

    Obedience is necessary if we love God, Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).

    Obedience is necessary of we say we know God. John wrote, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4).

    Obedience is necessary if we love one another, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments" (1 John 5:2).

    Obedience is necessary for purification, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Peter 1:22).

    Obedience is necessary for Salvation, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).

    The Results of Obedience:

    Obedience results in the reception of God's grace, "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name" (Romans 1:5).

    The obedient have the right to the tree of life, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).

    Obedience results in our prayers answered, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight" (1 John 3:22).

    Obedience results in glory, honor and peace, "But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile (Romans 2:10).

    Obedience results in righteousness, "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous" (1 John 3:7).

    Obedience results in the commitment of our souls to God, "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator" (1 Peter 4:19).

    Obedience results in Salvation, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29). "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).

    The Results of Disobedience:

    Disobedience will result in God's wrath, "For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience" (Colossians 3:6).

    Disobedience results in God's indignation, "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil..." (Romans 2:8-9).

    The disobedient will receive severe judgment, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17). Peter went on to say in verse 19 to "commit the keeping of their [our] souls to him in well doing". Well doing meaning "in obedience".

    Disobedience results in the chastening of God, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:6). The Psalmist wrote, "For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:12).

    Christians are to have no company with the disobedient, "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother" (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). This does not mean we are not to interact with the lost or the disobedient. We must interact in order to carry the gospel to the lost. we must interact in order to let our light shine before the world. But we must remember that our light is to shine and we are to live our lives as examples of obedient faithfulness to the lost.

    Disobedience will result in eternal destruction, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

    Saved by Grace through Faith:

    Obedience will not earn or merit us a home in heaven, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). We must never set back on the laurels of our obedience and think that God owes us anything. Jesus Christ had to die for us. There is no way we can repay the incredible sacrifice that was done on our behalf. It was a gift by the favor or grace of God. we can never allow ourselves to be boastful or prideful because of our obedience to God's will.

    In the parable of the unprofitable servant, Jesus taught that even if we were to obey everything God commanded, we should still count ourselves as servants who are unprofitable. "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10).

    God does not owe man anything simply because man obeys Him. Salvation cannot be deserved, nor bought, nor earned by anything man does. Man is lost and without hope unless he submits to God in obedience to His will. Obedience to God was the duty of man since the beginning and it is God's just right to demand it. Disobedience resulted in the downfall of man. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But by God's grace/favor, He provided a way for man to be redeemed. All man has to do is obey that plan of redemption given by the grace of God.

    Jesus Christ had to die so that we could live. There is nothing we can do either individually or collectively to deserve that gift or merit the salvation it makes possible. The only thing man can earn or deserve is death because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). We cannot work our way out of that penalty without the grace of God. In the end, Jesus still had to die for us. Jesus paid our sin debt so that we could have a hope of life. We can't pay the cost of that gift with our obedience. We are saved by grace through faith. We learned earlier that faith and obedience were inseparable in scripture. We are therefore saved by grace through an obedient living faith which is demonstrated in our love to God and to one another and in our submissive obedience to the will of God in all things.

    Don't Add To, Nor Take Away 

    by
    Jason Holladay
    Published on 05-13-10 08:24 PM

    In Deuteronomy chapter 4:2, Moses said, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Later in verse 32 of chapter 12 of the same book, he said, "What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."

    In Proverbs 30:5-6, the Bible says, "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." In Jeremiah 26:2, we read, "Thus saith the Lord; Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word."

    In Galatians 1:6-9, the apostle Paul said, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

    In Revelation 22:18-19, John wrote, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

    What do all these verses have in common? They all contain warnings against tampering with the word of God. Why are there so many of these warnings placed throughout the Bible, and why are some of them so strongly worded? Because God wants us to know how serious an offence tampering with his holy word really is. Let me explain.

    In Genesis 2:16-17, the Bible says, "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

    In the very next chapter, when the serpent was tempting Eve, she said, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:" (Genesis 3:2-4)

    All Satan did was added one little word to the commandment of God. I hope we all realize how dangerous it is to tamper with God's word.

    In Leviticus 10:1-2, the Bible says, "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord."

    Nadab and Abihu were priests of the tribe of Levi. Their father was Aaron, the high priest, who was also the brother to Moses. Only those of the tribe of Levi were authorized to minister in the services of the tabernacle (Numbers 1:50). We see therefore that they were not out of line in this respect. What then was the problem? Why did fire come down from the Lord and devour these men?

    To answer this question we must first look a little deeper at the word "strange" that appears in verse 1. That word comes from a Hebrew word that means "unauthorized." Nadab and Abihu acted very presumptuously by offering unauthorized fire to God almighty. Basically they were offering their own form of worship to God rather than it being based on a "Thus saith the Lord." Paul refers to this same sort of behavior in Colossians 2:22-23 when he refers to the following after of doctrines and commandments of men as "will worship."

    In John 4:23-24, Jesus said "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." In other words, Christians must worship God with the correct spirit or attitude, and it must be according to truth, which is the word of God (John 17:17). It is true that we can attempt to worship God any way we choose, but if it is not in the right attitude and not according to what he asked for, it is all in vain. That is why Jesus said in Mark 7:6-7, "Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, this people hounoureth me with their lips, but their heart is for from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

    Nadab and Abihu added to, or stepped outside of the commandments of God, by offering worship that was not pleasing to God. If we are not attentive to God instructions to us pertaining to worship we will be in error, just as Nadab and Abihu were.

    The Lord's Supper Is: 

    by
    David Hersey
    Published on 05-13-10 08:22 PM

    Need some help folks. I am putting together what I hope to be an exhaustive lesson on the Lord's supper. If anyone has time and is inclined, please review and make suggestions. Right now I am only collecting scripture and pointing out obvious conclusions. This is a work in progress and I need the help of my brethren and sistren.

    thanks




    The Lord's Supper is…

    When considering the topic of the Lord's supper, it is important to note that we do not learn everything about it and what its significance is from any single context. To gain a thorough understanding we must consider all of what the inspired writers taught about it and put it all together into a single doctrinal teaching and then apply it correctly to our lives. All scripture references are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.

    Names applied to the Lord's Supper:

    It is called the "Lord's Supper" in 1 Corinthians 11:20
    It is called the "breaking of Bread" in Acts 20:7, Acts 2:42
    It is called the "communion" in 1 Corinthians 10:16

    The Lord's Supper is the communion of the body and blood of Christ:
    1 Corinthians 10:16, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?"

    The Lord's Supper is to be done in remembrance of Jesus Christ:
    Luke 22:19, "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me".
    1 Corinthians 11:25, "This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me".

    The Elements of the Lord's Supper:

    Matthew 26:29, "fruit of the vine".
    Mark 14:25, "fruit of the vine".
    Luke 22:18, "fruit of the vine".
    (note the word wine was never used in scripture in reference to the cup.)

    Matthew 26:26, "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread".
    Mark 14:22, "And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them".
    Luke 22:19, "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them".
    1 Corinthians 11:23, "That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread".

    The Lord's Supper was instituted on the night of the Passover feast. The bread used in that feast was unleavened:
    Exodus 34:25, "Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning".

    The Passover feast was also known as the "feast of unleavened bread":
    Mark 14:1, "After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread:"

    Nothing eaten in the feast can be leavened:
    Exodus 12:19-20, "Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened".

    Conclusion: the bread and fruit of the vine used for the passover feast and afterwards, the Lord's Supper, had never been exposed to an artificially introduced leavening agent.

    The bread represents Christ's broken body:
    1 Corinthians 11:24, "And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me".

    The bread is the communion of the body of Christ:
    1 Corinthians 10:16, "...The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

    The fruit of the vine is the communion of the blood of Christ:
    1 Corinthians 10:16, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?..."

    The fruit of the vine is the new testament in the blood of Christ:
    1 Corinthians 11:25, "This cup is the new testament in my blood".

    The Frequency of the Lord's Supper:

    The Lord's supper was observed by the Christians at Pentecost and was something done with regularity afterward:
    Acts 2:42, "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers".

    Pentecost was on the first day of the week:
    Leviticus 23:15-16, "And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord".

    The Corinthian Christians assembled as a congregation into one place:
    1 Corinthians 11:18, "For first of all, when ye come together in the church".
    1 Corinthians 14:23, "If therefore the whole church be come together into one place".
    1 Corinthians 14:26, "when ye come together".

    The Corinthian Christians were observing the Lord's Supper when they came together, albeit improperly, but observing it nonetheless:
    1 Corinthians 11:20-21, "When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken".

    The Corinthian Christians gave of their means on the first day of the week:
    1 Corinthians 16:2, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come". The first day of the week was when the Corinthians were commanded to make their offering. It is inferred that this was when they came together as a congregation, which harmonizes with Acts 20:7 completely.

    The Christians in Troas observed it on the first day of the week:
    Acts 20:7, "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread".

    Improper Observance of the Lord's Supper:

    We are improper in our observance when we:

    Not observing it with the whole congregation at the same time and mixing it with a common meal:
    1 Corinthians 11:21-22, "For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not?"

    Observing it while drunken:
    1 Corinthians 11:21, "For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken".

    Not discerning the body of Christ:
    1 Corinthians 11:29, "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

    Leading a double life:
    1 Corinthians 10:19, "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils".

    Consequences For Improper Observance of the Lord's Supper:

    Those who observe the Lord's Supper improperly are guilty of the body and blood of Christ:
    1 Corinthians 11:27, "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord".

    and are eating and drinking damnation to their soul.
    1 Corinthians 11:29, "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body".

    Proper Observance of the Lord's Supper:

    The Lord's Supper was instituted after the feast of unleavened bread/Passover feast:
    Luke 22:20, "Likewise also the cup after supper,..."

    We show the Lord's death till He comes again:
    1 Corinthians 11:26, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come".

    We Remember the sacrifice of Jesus:
    Luke 22:19, "this do in remembrance of me". See also 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

    One should evaluate one's manner of observing the Lord's Supper:
    1 Corinthians 11:28, "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup".

    Significant things about the First Day of the Week:

    Christians come together on this day, (Acts 20:7)
    It is called the "Lord's day" in (Revelation 1:10)
    Christians observed the Lord's Supper on this day, (Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7)
    Christians gave of their means on this day, (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
    Christ was resurrected from the dead on this day, (Mark 16:9, John 20:1, John 20:19)
    Christ appeared to His disciples after His resurrection on the first day of the week, (John 20:19).
    The first day of the week is the day after the Sabbath, (Mark 16:1-2, Matthew 28:1)
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    Amazing Grace (An Analysis of God’s Grace) 

    by
    David Hersey
    Published on 05-13-10 08:21 PM

    Amazing Grace (An Analysis of God’s Grace)

    In our last lesson, we looked in detail at Biblical obedience. At the end of the lesson we touched on God’s grace. It is the purpose of this lesson to make an in depth study of God’s grace from a Biblical perspective.

    Grace produces forgiveness:
    Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”

    Grace provides salvation from the condemnation of sin:
    Ephesians 2:5, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved” Acts 15:11, “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they”.

    The word of Grace builds a Christian up:
    Acts 20:32, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”.

    God’s Grace is impartial:
    Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men”.

    God’s Grace calls: Galatians 1:15, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace”. 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”.

    Christians have their hope through Grace: 2 Thessalonians 2:16, “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace”.

    Grace is accessed by Faith:
    Romans 5:2, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.

    And Grace is accessed through Faith:
    Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith…”

    Christians stand in Grace: Romans 5:2, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”. 1 Peter 5:12, “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand”.

    God’s Grace is Conditional:

    Gods Grace is conditional upon faith, Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith…”

    A Christian can fall from God’s Grace, Galatians 5:4, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace”.

    A Christian can fail God’s Grace, “Hebrews 12:15, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”.

    God’s Grace can be turned into lasciviousness, “Jude 4, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ”.

    God’s Grace is given to the humble, “James 4:6, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble”. 1 Peter 5:5, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble”.

    Christians must continue in God’s Grace: Acts 13:43, “Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God”.

    Grace is Received by those who are obedient to the faith: Romans 1:5, "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name".

    The Origin of Grace:

    Grace is Given in Christ:
    1 Corinthians 1:4, “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ”. Ephesians 4:7, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ”.

    God’s Grace is Manifested in Christ:
    2 Timothy 1:9-10, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”.

    God’s Grace came by Jesus Christ:
    John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”. Romans 1:4-5, “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name”.

    Grace is Given by God:
    Romans 15:15, “Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God”. Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”.

    Grace and Salvation:

    Christians are saved by grace through faith: Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith…”

    Christians are justified by grace: Romans 3:23-24, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”. Titus 3:7, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”.

    Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life: “Romans 5:20-21, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord”. Those who do righteousness are righteous: “1 John 3:7, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous”.

    Grace cannot be earned: Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”.

    Grace can be defined as the unmerited or undeserving favor of God.

    For God to even reveal himself and his expectations is grace.

    For God to reveal our violations against that will is grace.

    For God to provide a way of atonement for sin is grace.

    For God informing us of that atonement is grace.

    For God to defer judgment to give us time to respond is grace.

    For God revealing to us how to respond is grace.

    There is much confusion on the role of “faith,” “works,” “law,” and “grace.” People are frequently confused on what sorts of works are involved in our salvation vs. what sorts of works are completely excluded from the salvation process.

    The very first thing to do is to insure that everyone is clear on whether or not man can save themselves. The answer is that we cannot. There is not anything we can do to put God in our debt. One important passage that teaches this clearly is the following:

    Luke 17:10
    “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

    If we had/have done all things commanded us, without exception, then we are still unworthy of God’s gracious blessings. Thus, we cannot earn salvation! But, part of the confusion expressed in the ongoing give and take, is located in failing to distinguish types of works in Scripture. When the Bible says that “works do not justify” (Rom. 4:1f; 11:1f.), and “works justify” (James 2:14-26), it becomes pretty clear that either the Bible is hopelessly contradictory on this point, or more than one type of work is under consideration in the Bible. The latter choice is the correct one! Some works are completely excluded with reference to salvation, and some works are included! When those works that are included are performed, they do not merit salvation in any sense whatever.

    WORKS THAT ARE EXCLUDED:

    1. Works of the flesh (Galatians. 5:19-21);
    2. Works of human merit (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-5);
    3. Works of the Law (Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:20); and/or
    4. Works of human devising (Romans 1:1-4).

    WORKS THAT ARE INCLUDED:

    1. Works of righteousness (Acts 10:34-35; John 6:28-29).

    The question is (and always has been) whether our faith is active and submissive in the salvation process, or totally inactive and passive! Many argue that faith is totally inactive and passive. The scriptures are clear that faith must be active and submissive (James 2). And, isn’t it interesting that the very one who is used by Paul to argue salvation apart from works of human merit and devising (viz., Abraham–see Rom. 4:1ff.) is used by the author of Hebrews as well as James as the primary example of active and submissive faith (Hebrews 11:8, 17; James 2:24-26). One other example is used, namely, Rahab. Her faith was expressed through works (James 2:25-26), which the author of Hebrews defines as an obedient faith. Hebrews 11:31, “By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace”. (ASV) Since Rahab didn’t perish with those who disobeyed, she therefore must have been saved because she obeyed.

    Nothing in the process described in any way militates against salvation being by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Neither does it argue against salvation being FREE! God’s gracious offers to man are always FREE Man can do nothing at all to purchase, earn, merit, or in any other way obtain that salvation apart from God’s gracious offer. It does not, however, imply that nothing at all must be done by man to receive it.

    If we think of grace as a comprehensive theological term standing for everything God does to procure my salvation, then it refers to His plan of salvation through history, the promises to the Patriarchs, preparation through prophecy, the life, teachings, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our atoning sacrifice–the Christ, the establishment of the church, the announcing of terms of admission into the church-kingdom, etc. ALL of these things are expressions of God’s grace. Mankind did nothing to provide it, could not earn it, and does not deserve it!

    If we also think of faith as a comprehensive theological term standing for man’s response to God’s gracious offer, then faith, as a summarizing term, contains everything I do to avail myself of God’s offer. It involves hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, being baptized, a life of loyal commitment, etc. Grace is God reaching down to fallen man through Christ; faith is man reaching upward to God through response. As such, it is always active, and never passive.

    The availability of salvation, under any circumstances whatsoever, must be grace.

    This is because God does not owe salvation to anybody. He would perfectly entitled to send a sinless man to eternal punishment. If God were to require nothing of us, not even faith, in order to receive salvation, it would be grace. If He were to require only acceptance of Jesus as the Son of God (many people wrongly consider this to be believing that Jesus is the Son of God), it would be grace. His making salvation available through obedience to the gospel plan is grace. If He extended salvation only to those who suffer fatal martyrdom, it would still be grace. Under all of these conditions, any provenance of salvation is grace, because He does not owe us anything, nor is there any possible set of circumstances by which God can be in debt to anything that He has created.

    God’s grace is not some entity that operates to grant salvation indiscriminately and unconditionally; rather, God’s grace consists of the fact that salvation is available by any means. Consider the farmer who sows, waters, and in sundry other ways cultivates his crop. Could any man deny that the resulting harvest is not God’s gift? Does the farmer who does everything right, but whose crop is destroyed by a freak storm, disease, locusts, or robbers, have a case against God? Can the farmer who fails to sow, water, weed, etc., rely on God’s grace to receive a harvest anyway?

    In the end, even if a Christian lived His entire life sinless from the moment of his conversion, he/she still cannot merit or deserve God’s grace. Nothing man did or can do had anything to do with bringing him the means of salvation from his own sin. The scriptures teach that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It cost God the life of His only begotten Son in order to provide mankind a means of salvation. There is nothing man individually or collectively could do to either deserve or repay such a gift of Grace. God’s Son willingly came down here and gave His life at the hands of those He came to save in order to complete God’s plan for man’s salvation. There is nothing man can do to deserve or repay that gift of Grace. Without God’s grace, there would have been no suitable sacrifice for our sins. Take away God’s gracious offer and man’s hope dies. Man absolutely cannot save himself without God’s offering of grace.

    God’s word is explicitly clear that grace is accessed through faith, Romans 5:2, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”; Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith”. The scriptures are replete with commands which are of divine origin. Can mankind seriously contend that a person can hear of a command from God, decide that he will not obey that command, and having left this life with that command unfulfilled by his own choice, still have any hope for salvation? Such a man is an unrepentant sinner. If the Scriptures are clear on any point, they state that the unrepentant have no hope of salvation whatsoever.

    And as for being saved by faith: If any believe that they can disregard a command given in the name of Jesus Christ, by those empowered by Jesus to give such commands, then whatever ideas man has about Jesus do not qualify as faith that He is the Son of God. Faith does not just reside in man’s head like a fish in a fishbowl; faith has specific results in one’s conduct. Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God results in unquestioning obedience. If there is no such obedience, there is no faith, and where there is no faith, there is no access to God’s grace.

    The writer of this study gratefully acknowledges and used the work of Dick Sztanyo, Johnny Hinton and John VanSickle in the preparation.

    Related studies in this series:

    Analysis of a Command

    Analysis of Obedience
    1 Comment

    An Incovenient Truth 

    by
    Lee Parish
    Published on 05-13-10 08:20 PM

    In 2006 Al Gore, the former Vice President of the United States, released a documentary titled "An Inconvenient Truth". In this documentary Gore tries to make the claim that humans have destroyed the planet through our very presence. My views on that are simple. God created this whole place and we are arrogant indeed if we think we can destroy it. Now all Christians ought to take care of what we have been blessed with, but I'm pretty sure that God factored us in when he set the universe in motion. One of Gore's main points was that we can't just ignore it and make it go away. In fact we are responsible for our indifference. Just because it is inconvenient is no reason to ignore it.

    This brings me to the real Inconvenient Truth. Not something made up, but something that is real and tragic. In fact I can barely write this it hurts so much. Since 1973 a conservative estimate projects us to pass 50 million abortions early next year in the U.S. Let me write that again: 50 million. Just sit there and think about that number. What a tragedy! Nay, what an abomination! Each one of those is a human being, a thinking feeling person! Those babies each possessed a soul, a brain, a heart, and all the essentials to live. They only needed some help, instead they got a needle.

    I once asked a Wednesday evening assembly to raise their hand if they were born in 1973 or later. I then told them to thank their parents for not killing them. We are survivors of an atrocity. When historians look back and see how many deaths a certain ruler, or a specific generation of people are responsible for, they often mention Hitler, Chairman Mao, Pol Pot, or Joseph Stalin. Well that list needs to include the U.S. Oh sure abortion is a world-wide plague, but the U.S. should know better. We are the most financially blessed country in the history of the world. With the best educated populace in history. We should know better. We are the ones responsible.

    I wonder do we have blood on our hands? Oh, we stand up and say how wrong this is, but surely there has to be a better way. How is it that after 36 years of government sanctioned murder we have not moved the pendulum one inch. We haven't gotten any closer to ending this abomination since it started. Perhaps it is because we ignore it. It's an inconvenience to our lives. We don't like to hear about it, and we don't like to talk about it. We certainly don't want to think about it. So we push it aside, perhaps giving it lip service, but no more than a passing sigh, or a thoughtless "How tragic."

    I knew a boy who personally survived an abortion. His mother went to a "clinic" to have him killed. She flipped a coin at the door, heads he lived, tails he died. The coin landed on heads and she dropped her head, got back into the car, and carried the boy to term. He told me this story in the 7th grade. The boy was alive, but scarred by the fact that it was by the flip of a coin. How many coin flips have landed on tails? How many great scientists, artists, mathematicians, athletes, and philosophers have we snuffed out? Perhaps by the chance of a coin. How grand a country, better yet a world, would this be? If you thought 50 million was a large number, consider this; since the decade began the estimated number of abortions in developed countries is well over 88 million. In ten years!

    When will it stop? Perhaps it will stop when it ceases to be an inconvenient truth. It will stop when we decide that we are through allowing it to go on. Or when God decides that he is through with us. We offer our posterity to the altar of convenience. Who will stand up and destroy the altar? Who will stand up for those who have no voice? Who will stand up for life? Who will stand up for God?

    Humbled 

    by
    Lee Parish
    Published on 05-13-10 08:19 PM

    What is man? That is the question that David himself contemplated in the 8th Psalm. What is man that thou art mindful of him? Some claim that this is actually a declarative statement, "What is man!" because of where God has placed him. But I stand with the vast majority of commentators and translators who see this as a serious question. What is man?

    What is man that we deserve what God has done for us? What did we ever do to warrant the place of authority that we have been given on this earth? What have we done to warrant God's grace? We have done nothing worthy of such blessings. In fact we have done nothing to warrant the attention of the eternal and omniscient God.

    Yet God visits us. He visited those of old through personal ways as He saw fit. He visited mankind in general through Jesus Christ. He visits us still, though far less obvious. He visits us through His providential care, and through His continued blessings.

    God's providence is a topic that is appreciated by few people, and understood by even fewer. In fact I'm not sure that any man this side of inspiration can fully appreciate and understand God's providence. Though we are confident that God takes care of His own, we are often uncertain how. The how seems to confound the intellect. What confounds the heart is the why. Why does God care so for us?

    As I contemplate what I believe is undoubtedly God's providence displayed brightly and clearly in my life, I wonder why. The only answer that can satisfy is that He loves me. Certainly not just me, God loves all His creation, but He has a special place for those who are in His kingdom. I think about those blessings, and I say what is man that thou art mindful of him? I think about who I am and who God is, and I am humbled.

    The Easier Path 

    by
    Lee Parish
    Published on 05-13-10 08:16 PM

    From day to day we are presented with certain situations that try our faith. A proving ground of sorts. Opportunities for us to display where our treasure lies and what we value. Often these situations are small, many times they are between ourselves and God. Seemingly private things, such as upon what our eyes gaze or upon what our mind ponders. Many times those things pass by the notice of others. So we prove our faith to our God and Him alone.

    Other times, however, we are presented with a very public and very difficult situation. What we do will not only be seen of God, but will be seen of others. What we do will not only impact our own spiritual walk, but it could very well help determine the path that others take as well.

    We would do well to work through that in our minds before we find ourselves in those situations. Many people are more than willing to choose that easier path. The path of least resistance. The path of righteousness sometimes seems like such a hard path to tread, many barriers are placed by Satan.

    Such is the problem of human sight and human wisdom. The easier path only appears to be easier. But choosing to travel down that path only brings heartache and ruin. It sure is easy at the beginning, a simple nod of the head is all that it takes to move down that path. However the further we traverse, the more and more difficult it becomes to leave that path. The higher and thicker the hedges, the steeper the downhill decent. Soon we find ourselves barely able to keep our feet under us. Then we lose all control. What once was easy, has now become our death trap.

    The path of God is not always easy, but it is always sure. We are presented with difficult choices, tough challenges, but instead of wallowing in them, I say rejoice at them! Be glad that God has presented you with an opportunity to show forth His glory. Be grateful that God has given you another chance to grow. Be thankful that you may influence someone else for good.

    Whether it is a "small and personal" or a "large and public" opportunity, remember that God knows. He wants you to choose carefully. So take that "other" road, the road that few will choose, and be glad in it. Glorify God in it. Walk with confidence. Keep your eyes focused firmly on your Lord and Savior, and your heart and mind focused on the Word of Truth.

    (Matthew 7:13-14; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:1-2)

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