Tag: Obedience

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Like Father, Like Son- F260- Week 3- Day 5

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional, F260Leave a comment

Today’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 25:19-34, 26

This week’s memory verse:
(20)  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

(20)  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Romans 4:20

Highlight:

(9) And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.
(10) And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
(11) And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

Genesis 26:9-11

Explanation:
There is an obedience in this passage in that God told Isaac where to travel and where not to travel, and reaffirmed his promise to Isaac and his desire for obedience from Isaac. He pointed to Abraham’s obedience as an example.

Their is also deceit in this passage. The context here is that Isaac had gone to dwell in a place called Gerar (v.6). He was asked about his wife, Rebekah. His answer is that she is his sister because he feared for his life. (v.7). The king of the Philistines figures out that they are really married (v.9), and Isaac gives his reasons for it. Abimiliech sees it as dangerous for him to pursue intimacy with another man’s wife and suffer the consequences (v.10). The pagan man then properly warns his people about bringing about any problems with Isaac and Rebeckah.

This passage is very similar to previous passages describing Abraham’s interaction with the pagan people around him. You can find these passages in Genesis_12:10-14 and Genesis_20:1-4.

Application:
We can learn a couple of lessons from this passage:

  1. Sexual Intimacy is to be confined to marriage, and there are consequences when it is not confined to that relationship.
  2. Our sins have consequences for us, but they also can be repeated in subsequent generations. We must be careful because our kids are watching.
  3. God desires obedience.

Response:
Lord God, please help me to be careful to obey you, and to encourage obedience and faith in my children. Amen

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Isaiah- Week 1- Day 5

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isa 1:18-20

Explanation:
God had been making an argument. The people were putting their faith in performing rituals while being blatantly disobedient in every other area of their lives. What was the point of the rituals in the first place?

We know that God justified those who believed in Him. They were justified because of their faith. Their faith was demonstrated through obedience to the rituals and ceremonies that God required of them. The shedding of blood through the sacrifices God demanded were a picture of the coming sacrifice of Jesus, God’s Son, for the sin of the whole world.
God had been calling out the children of Israel because of their disobedience to his commands throughout their lives, and then their ritualistic adherence to the ceremonial law. Their lifestyle outside of their obedience to the rituals demonstrated their lack of faith in God. They may have had faith in the ritual, but they did not have faith in God.
So God says to them, “let us reason together.” He’s asking them to think about what He has said. If they were obedient to him and sought to obey him, every part of their lives and their faith would justify them. He depicts this transformation from dirty to clean with a very visual picture. Though their sins were as scarlet and crimson to white as snow or wool.
He then tells them that there will be blessing with obedience. If they would obey they will have his favor. But if they disobeyed they would be “devoured by the sword.” So the question he had for them could be phrased this way: “Do you want blessing and life, or do you want wrath and death?

Application:
There is a similar application for us today. True saving faith always results in works. James said it this way.

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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 2:17-18

These people were thinking that empty ritualism and religious activity would make them right with God. The problem was their hypocritical living revealed their lack of faith in the true God. It is important for us to examine our faith as well. Do we serve God out of sheer tradition? Have we truly repented of our sin and trusted in Christ alone for our salvation? Is there evidence of our faith in God exhibited in our works, or are we content to practice our religion on Sunday and deny Him by our life the other six and a half days a week?

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2:12

And like the audience of this first chapter, this is a matter of life and death for us. We will all face eternity, and at that point the genuineness of our faith in Christ is the only thing that will matter.

Response:
• If you haven’t truly trusted in Christ as Savior, know that though your sins be as scarlet they can be as white as snow! Trust in Christ today!
• If you do know Christ as your Savior, has your worship in any way become ritualistic and dispassionate? What do you need to do for that to change?

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Listen Up!- Isaiah- Week 1- Day 1

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:10

Explanation:
Notice the two commands that God gives in this verse: “hear” and “give ear.” The idea of these words were not just to audibly take it in. The idea was to listen and obey.

Also notice the two audiences: “rulers of Sodom” and “people of Gomorrah.” When you read the context here, God is speaking (1:2) to the nation of Judah and Jerusalem specifically (1:1). He is not talking to the actual cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Those cities were known to be very sinful cities.

But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Genesis 13:13

These were the cities who faced the fire and brimstone of God’s wrath because of their wickedness.

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

Genesis 19:24-25

In essence God was calling Jerusalem and Judah the future objects of his wrath. He was calling them wicked. By calling them to listen to His Word and His Law he was being merciful. He was warning them of the status of their behavior.

Application:
It is so important for us to listen to God’s Word. It’s not enough to know what His will is. We must be dedicated to doing it.

Response:
• Are you being disobedient to God’s Word in any area of your life?

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Listen, kids! Proverbs- Week 1- Day 2

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:  (9)  For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

Proverbs 1:8-9

Explanation:

Solomon has begun the book by laying out the purpose of the literature. The purpose of these Proverbs is to give wisdom and instruction to the young, to the simple, and to those that will listen. This culminated to the most foundational beginning and primary truth. That truth is that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”.

It is in that context that Solomon begins to speak to his son. We as readers get to lean in and listen to this instruction. Certainly we can believe that any father would give their son the best advice they can give. There is little incentive to give your own children bad advice. They bear your name! God granted Solomon his request for wisdom, and so the ability to read the kingly advice of Solomon to his son is of utmost value.

Solomon tells his son to “hear” the instruction of thy father. The word translated “hear” does not just mean to physically comprehend what is being said. The word means to physically comprehend with an inclination towards obedience. Listen and obey the instruction of your Father. The idea is continued in the parallelism of the phrase. “Forsake not the law of thy mother”. Clearly this is not just speaking about physically listening, but also obeying.

In verse 9 he references “they”. What is “they” referring to? It is referring to the instruction of the father, and the law of the mother. This instruction and law will be an “ornament of grace”. The word for ornament is used twice in proverbs. It is used here, and also in Proverbs 4:9.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Proverbs 4:9

The picture of this word is a wreath or a crown on the head. It is something that decorates the person wearing it. The idea is that this instruction and law will bring favor to your life by the obedience the son gives to it. Similarly they will be “chains about thy neck”. To wear jewelry and crowns at this time would be a sign of prosperity, favor, and riches.

Solomon is saying that heeding the instruction and law of your parents tends to lead to life, favor and blessing.

Application:

For children still living in their parents’ home, the application of this verse is pretty direct. There is blessing and favor for the child that listens and seeks to obey the guidance of their parents. The new testament repeats this directive and promise.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Ephesians 6:1-3

For the adult not in the home, the truth is no less direct. We should remember and not forsake the wise instruction and guidance handed down to us from our parents. If your parent wasn’t particularly wise, it doesn’t mean that there is not anything wise you could learn from them. There are others older and wiser. There are elders you may have access to in your local church from which to gain wisdom and instruction.

In the context of this passage, we all have access to the wisdom of the Lord contained in the scripture. We should heed the wisdom and instruction contained in the pages of scripture. When we obey the wisdom given to us it will bring us blessing.

Response:

  • What is something that you are doing that is unwise?
  • Is there anything that your parents taught you to do that you are forsaking?
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Listen, kids! Proverbs- Week 1- Day 2 6