Tag: Commandments

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

Listen and Obey

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Based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w3d4

Read: Ex 20:1-21 and Deuteronomy 6:4-15; SOAP Deuteronomy 6:5

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed, and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Read More

Deuteronomy 6:4-15

“When the Israelites had crossed through the Red Sea, God gave them rules by which to live. This is known as the law. The law was meant to reveal the people’s sin and show their need for God’s grace. It was also meant to show them what a holy life looks like.”

From the Beginning to Forever/p107

These rules and this message are specifically to the people of God. A message that emphasized the importance of God’s people loving Him. It wouldn’t be an easy command to keep because it wasn’t simply a feel-good type of love. For Israel, God’s children, this love required every part of them ~all of their mind, all of their being, and all of their strength. They were not only to obey the commandment to love like God with their whole being, but they were also not to forget the commandment. Again, not as easy as it may sound because they weren’t just to obey the commandment(s), but they were to “keep them in mind, teach them to their children, speak of them (verse 6) all throughout the day and evening. They were to be written down and put in places where they would be seen and remembered easily.

God knew that the people could never fully uphold the law. This is why they needed a Rescuer.

From the Beginning to Forever/p107

So, why were these words of instruction so important? Why is there a mandate to remember them, talk about them, and teach them to the children? The answer is found, at least in part, in Deuteronomy 6:12-15 – where we read: be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 13 You must fear the Lord your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name. 14 “You must not worship any of the gods of neighboring nations, 15 for the Lord your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth. However, David also addresses the purpose/benefit of remembering the commandment(s) when he wrote: “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)

Obedience isn’t always easy. My grandson experienced that at preschool today when he ended up in time-out more than a time or two. For a three-year-old, he is typically a very well-behaved, kind, and respectful little boy (and, for the record, I would say that even if I weren’t his Oma ☺). You see, it wasn’t that he didn’t know how to obey; it was that he got caught up in what he saw or wanted to do, and he forgot the importance of remembering, listening, and obeying.

Friends, let’s ask God to help us keep His Word in mind, to teach His Word(s) to our children, speak of them (verse 6) all throughout the day and evening. Let’s write them down and put them in places where they will be seen and remembered easily. Let’s be ‘all-in’ in our relationship with God, making every effort to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength.

You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. ~ Hebrews 3:13

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

The Evidence of Obedience

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based on , Abiding in Jesus, w4d3

Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

1 John 3:24

Read and SOAP: 1 John 3:24

I love this verse and have committed it to memory. Why? Because I love the reminder that we aren’t expected to obey God in our own strength, but through the Spirit He has given us. It is the Spirit who teaches us all things God wants us to know and reminds us of everything Jesus told His disciples, (Jn 14:26). Today’s journal entry reminds us: “When we start to wander away from Jesus, when the lure of the world gets strong and our love grows cold, the Holy Spirit will draw us back to His Word. When we stumble and fall, giving in to temptation, the Holy Spirit will convict us and lead us to repentance.” As surely as we are dependent on Jesus for salvation, we are dependent on the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us in the understanding and living out of God’s Word. And, as we discovered in the early part of this journey, it is through the Spirit that we are able to reflect the character of God through the fruit of the Spirit.1

 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

Friends, without the Spirit … we cannot live and love like Jesus. Instead, we will live in the ways of the old nature, doing evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. Paul wrote that when we do this the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. This is a far different result from living in obedience to and fellowship with the Father and walking in step with the Spirit, which produces: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

Remember that God Himself lives in you. He has cleansed you, and given you a new life. He will complete the good work He has started in you. Because of the work of the Holy Spirit in us, we are enabled to keep God’s commandments.

p 127, Abiding in Jesus

Let’s give God thanks for giving us His Spirit, who helps us obey and abide. My our lives be reflections of your love and truth. Let’s ask God to help us remain close to Him and faithfully abide, so that our lives will be a reflection of His love and truth.

The More We Know
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

FLEEING FAST FOOD SPIRITUALITY…

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Scripture: Psalm 119:133-136

Today’s post is borrowed and shared from LoveGodGreatly.com’s study of Psalm 119

by WhitneyD | Jul 22, 2015 | Week6/Day3

Wanna know a terrible secret of mine?

I like french fries. What’s worse? The more salt on them, the better.

When I was pregnant with my first baby, they were my quick go-to snack when I could no longer ignore those impatient hunger cravings that came on without notice. I know, I know… super unhealthy choice. But fast food is convenient, man. Preparing healthier options took time, preparation, and intentionality, and it was honestly just easier to indulge in a moment of weakness than to plan ahead.

I got away with it for awhile. At least it seemed that way. But over the course of my pregnancy, all of those moments of weakness eventually went straight to my hips. Of course, they did. Postpartum, I found myself uncomfortably weighed down by my unhealthy choices – both literally and figuratively.

I was miserable, and something had to change.

As I began to pay attention to my eating habits, I noticed that it wasn’t one huge bad decision that put me over the edge each day. Rather, it was a combination of small compromises that added up over time. A bite here. A lick there. A desensitization to the long term effects that the sum of my choices would produce over time, because I could justify my desire just this once.

In my desperation I started implementing small changes. Trust me, my body wouldn’t be transformed overnight. But as I made physical exercise and healthy eating greater priorities in my life, day by day and bite by healthy bite, I noticed that I craved those french fries less and less over time.

As I fed my body the good stuff, it got easier to leave the bad habits behind.

Love God Greatly

Taking the undisciplined, compromised road physically has its consequences. Sort of like our spiritual lives.

Sin is all around us, screaming for us to indulge.

It creeps up on us in our weakest moments.

Over time, it weighs us down and makes us all kinds of uncomfortable.

Sometimes it’s one big flop, but often it’s the seemingly small stuff that we justify because we think we can pull it off with minimal damage.

It desensitizes our convictions and tempts us to give in just this once.

It convinces us that it’s more fun to indulge in the moment than it is to invest wisely in the future.

And unfortunately for most of us, sin usually isn’t defeated overnight. 

But as we make God’s Word a priority in our lives, our hearts are redirected. By God’s transforming power we crave His law more and more, and by His grace we begin to crave the things of this world less and less.

“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” ~ Psalm 119:133

Reading God’s Word won’t always be convenient. It takes time, preparation, and intentionality, and is a task that will require planning and commitment every day for the rest of our lives.

But the results are oh, so satisfying.

Are you tired of settling for fast food spirituality?

Let’s fight against sin by feasting on the good stuff… together.

*Let’s Talk: What do YOU need to flee from in order to pursue more intimacy with God through His Word?

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Thinking on God’s Word …

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based on the LGG Study: Psalm 119, Seeking God With ALL Your Heart / w5d1

Scripture; Psalm 119:97-104

Oh, how I love your instructions!
    I think about them all day long.
98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
    for they are my constant guide.
99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
    for I am always thinking of your laws.
100 I am even wiser than my elders,
    for I have kept your commandments.
101 I have refused to walk on any evil path,
    so that I may remain obedient to your word.
102 I haven’t turned away from your regulations,
    for you have taught me well.
103 How sweet your words taste to me;
    they are sweeter than honey.
104 Your commandments give me understanding;
    no wonder I hate every false way of life.

Psalm 119:97-104 NLT

Today’s post is borrowed and shared from the LGG Post

by WhitneyD | Jul 12, 2015 | 25 comments

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” ~ Psalm 119:103

My kids asked me a serious question: “How do you know that guy in the drive-thru?”

Ha. “I don’t really,” I said. Except for I do – sort of.

He’s eighteen, and he’s working almost every time I pull up to the window to get my dollar drink at the fast food joint three minutes from my house – which is on a pretty regular basis during the hot summer months.

I know that he was a senior in high school last year – except for he didn’t quite graduate, so now he’s working hard to get his GED. He’s working really hard, but it’s not always easy.

I know that he’s a dedicated worker, and that someday he’d like to do more with his life. He told me so once out of the blue as he smiled and handed me my drink.

He’s outgoing and friendly and always gives my daughter a hearty hello when she rolls down the back window of the van to make silly faces and say “hi” to him. And he lights up when we greet him by his first name. I really never thought much of it, but it sure seems to mean a lot to him… even if we shallowly learned it from his work name tag.

But as we pulled up to the drive-thru window last week, he wasn’t his usual smiley self. Before I could even ask, he offered that it had been a hard week. Something about relationship problems with a girl, and that he felt like his life had no purpose.

“I’ve been there,” I said. “Hey man, do you know God?”  I quickly glanced in my rearview mirror and spotted my middle schoolers discreetly sinking down into their seats in the back of the ol’ minivan. Heh.

I shared Proverbs 3:5-6 with him and talked about how my life would be a mess without God and His Word. And instead of looking at me like I was some crazy middle-aged mom who doesn’t get out much (listen, my teenagers already had that look covered), tears filled his eyes and he whispered, “I think God is trying to tell me something. You’re the third person in line today who has talked about the Bible with me.” A small smile returned as his eyes drifted away and he slowly shook his head in disbelief.

“Wanna come to church with us on Sunday?” my spunky girlie yelled through her rolled-down back window without missing a beat. Aaahhh… that-a-girl. I felt a little bad for the poor people waiting in line behind us, but not that bad. “Hey lady, I know your burger’s important, but we’re talking about Jesus up here.”

Ok, so I didn’t really say that.

But I might have thought it. Because let’s face it: too often we save God’s Word for church services and weddings and funerals and for when we want to disagree with something the world just offended us with.

But God’s Word is also for the mundane. In fact, it’s especially for the mundane.

It’s hope in the workplace and at the kitchen sink. It’s encouragement over morning coffee and in late night phone conversations. It’s peace during toddler tantrums and in adult relationship struggles. It’s life during dry seasons and purpose in the laundry pile that never ends. It’s joy in the midst of teenage break-ups and in unpredictable vehicle break-downs. It’s confidence in the unseen moments and in life’s final days.

And it’s totally God revealing himself in the middle of the drive-thru line on some random Tuesday afternoon.

“If God doesn’t rule your mundane, then he doesn’t rule you. Because that’s where you live.” ~ Paul Tripp

God has given us this incredible Book packed full of hope, encouragement, peace, life, purpose, joy and confidence, and I cringe to think of the times that I have pulled my Bible out as a last resort – in life’s big moments and in my every day mundane. And I cringe when I think about the times that I knew I should have shared it with others and I didn’t. Why do we so often go to God’s Word as a last resort when it has been gifted to us as a priceless window in to the heart of our Savior?

A gift far too precious to keep to ourselves.

God, let it be your words that we run to in the mundane. Let it be your words that flow from our lips, ready and willing to bring life and hope to those around us.

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.” ~ Psalm 119:97-98

At His feet,

*LET’S TALK: How do YOU weave God’s Word into the mundane moments of your day?

{Week 5} Challenge: In addition to your regular Bible study, incorporate God’s Word into at least ONE “mundane” moment each day this week. For example: while you’re doing dishes, listen to one chapter of the Bible from an online audio Bible source, or include encouraging Scripture in a note to a friend.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time, Wisdom

Wonderful Truths

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w1d4

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Psalm 119:17-24/ SOAP 18, 23-24

Be kind to your servant.
Then I will live and keep your instructions.
18 Open my eyes so I can truly see
the marvelous things in your law.
19 I am a resident foreigner in this land.
Do not hide your commands from me.
20 I desperately long to know
your regulations at all times.
21 You reprimand arrogant people.
Those who stray from your commands are doomed.
22 Spare me shame and humiliation,
for I observe your rules.
23 Though rulers plot and slander me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
24 Yes, I find delight in your rules;
they give me guidance.

Psalm 119:17-24

I don’t know which I like more, the beauty of the Psalmist’s heart or the way the way he writes. Both capture my attention and arouse an ‘amen and hallelujah!” Not only does he understand that he is a servant of the Most High God, he also realizes that he is totally dependent on God and His goodness – to the point of life and obedience and eyes to see the wonderful truths in His Word. As a foreigner in a land that most likely was much like ours, filled with wicked and perverse people who challenged, if not condemned, his faith, he seemed to fear that somehow God’s Word would be hidden from him. If you’ve ever gone long periods of time without the Word, you understand the fear that grips the heart when you need to ‘hear from God’ and He seems to be silent. Though he was scorned and insulted, the Psalmist knew that he had obeyed the laws of God and was determined to meditate on God’s decrees, declaring he was pleased with God’s laws and knew that they gave him wise advice.

Living the Journey (Application)

Understanding that we do not belong to ourselves because God bought us with a high price (1 Cor 6:19-20) is crucial to having a heart that beats for God. We are utterly dependent on God, and if we do not understand this, we will not be committed to living obediently to His Word or having our eyes open to see the wonderful truths that it holds. We will not care and perhaps not even notice that we are foreigners here on earth and are desperate to keep His commands at the ready; instead, we will live like the arrogant and wander from His commands, letting our sin alienate us from Him. When others speak against us, we will lose a desire to meditate on His decrees and we will find no pleasure in His laws nor see them as wise advice.

We must be careful to remember who we are in Christ and live accordingly – as:

  • servants of God
  • dependent on Him for life and godliness and even the ability to see the truths of His Word
  • a citizen of Heaven and foreigners here on earth who realize a need to know God’s commands so that we do not wander outside of His will or lose heart and desire for Him/His Word when others scorn or plot against us.
Prayer for the Journey

Father, grant us a servant’s heart that lives to please You and longs for Your Word. Guard us against wandering from your commands. Let us not lose heart when others plot against us or slander us, but meditate all the more on Your Word. We are desperate for You and long for You in this dry and thirsty land to open our eyes to Your truths and hold to them as the wise advice that they are. We love You, Lord – and are so thankful for Your Word and the examples You have set before us. – Amen!

Music for the journey

Boy, this is a blast from my past. I used to love to listen to the Satlers – 😀

Question FOR THE JOURNEY

It’s easy to think of ourselves as God’s child and forget that we are also Lord and Master. Why is it important to remember that we are also His servants?

What do you think the Psalmist meant when he said that he delights in God’s rules?

THE MORE WE KNOW

Another prominent theme in Psalm 119 is the profound truth that the Word of God is all-sufficient. Psalm 119 is an expansion of Psalm 19:7–9: “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.” There are eight different terms referring to the Word of God throughout the Psalm: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, words, and ordinances. In almost every verse, the Word of God is mentioned.

gotquestions.org
Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Draw Near: Week 3, Friday — Interpretation

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Today’s Scripture – Psalm 19:7-9; Matthew 24:35 (SOAP: Matthew 24:35)

Psalm 19:7-9

The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
    reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
    bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
    giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
    lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
    each one is fair.

Matthew 24:35

Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

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