July 22, 2009

  • The Light You Already Have

    GodsWordlivingandactive

    Follow the light you already have

    A lamp, not a searchlight

    God does not often give Christians "long range" guidance about their future. It is more often just about the next step to take.

    The psalmist said to God, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

    God's word was a "lamp" so he could see where he was walking, not a searchlight shining on his destination.

    Do you really want to know the future?

    It is not always to our advantage to know what is going to happen to us. Jesus told Peter, "When you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." John 21:18 This is probably a prediction of Peter's future martyrdom when, according to tradition, he would be killed by crucifixion.

    We may be glad not to know all that will happen to us later on in our lives.

    MyLIfeIsInYourHands

    Loving and obeying

    Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching." John 14:23

    It is often easier to be preoccupied with the future than to obey Jesus in the present.

    mayuhearGod

    OBEDIENCE (To God and His Commands) AND ITS LINKS

    Obedience linked with faith

    Romans 16:26 (The Message) 25-26All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long but now an open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now know the truth and be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got all this started, down to the very last letter.

    Obedience linked with holiness

    Acts 26:18 (The Message) 17-18"'I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I'm sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in Me.'

    Obedience linked with righteousness

    Romans 6:13 12-14That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.

    Obedience linked with God's blessing

    Deuteronomy 11:27 (NLT) 27 You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today.

    Obedience linked with God's word

    Psalm 119:67 (The Message) 67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.

    Obedience linked with Salvation

    Hebrews 5:9 (The Message) 9 In this way, God qualified Him (Jesus) as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.

    MybelovedSon

    Excerpts from: Knowing God's Will made easier/ChristianBook.com