Yesterday I was seeking God extra hard about some things and like a big boulder crashing through a picture window, I was reminded of Matthew chapter 7:1-5. Its a simple guide for behavior. Ummmm never ask God if you don't want the answer. For Christians the Bible is read, used and if applied will either cause change or stagnation. Many are afraid to be looked at, talked about or judged harshly all for the sake of Christ. Some can not see past the pain and emptiness due to forsaking that which is not of Christ to follow Him and his commandments. Why?. Because we can not do what our old bodies once did, we can go where old bodies once went. We can not do many of the things our old selves did before we gave our lives to Christ. The old man has passed away and behold a new man comes forth, in Christ. A new creation. Washed white as snow, a clean heart. God is good. But we know there are many who want to keep their old man and still hold on to Christ. The word says you can not serve two masters, right?
What does God say about obedience?. Is His commandments an option or requirement?. God gave the Ten Commandments and many more do nots for a reason. Why? Because God is a God or order. God also gave the consequences for disobeying His word. God spoke “Do Not” approximately 97 times, why is that?. It is clear to me.
Genesis starts showing after God created and said it was good, the consequences of disobedience. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and was banished from the Garden to live a life of pain and hardship. Exodus shows Moses not being allowed to enter the promise land because of disobedience. Saul was threatened with him being removed from the Throne. There is more. The result of not obeying God's word is simple, destruction. The plagues that were inflicted on Pharaoh, lets look at this closely. Now would you want blood to invade your drinking water and bath tubes, frogs, gnats, flies, dead livestock, boils, hail destroying your property, locusts eating up your gardens, total darkness or worse, death of your first born child to come upon you?. I would think not. Darkness who wants that?. Though we are not in biblical times , we are still admonished today. We are faced with diseases that are uncured, people killing people, companies closing causing countless to loose employment, homelessness, starvation, mental crisis and the list goes on. This list is huge. I am sure Pharaoh had no clue as to the God he was dealing with. He couldn't because he thought he was god. Guess he found out otherwise.
Obeying God is a requirement for all who call Him Lord. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you should have no issue with His word. You should be hungry for Him. Will we do it right every time? No. Will we mess up? Yes. God knew. The thing is when God came to earth in the form of Man, He came so that we all might have life and yes, have it abundantly. Its easy in many ways and yes it is also hard because we have to do the work that is required. We just can not talk about it, we have to DO THE WORK. Even the word says faith without works is dead. You can have faith but you also have to work it. You have to change much about who you are and what you do for Him. Just as Jesus said in Matthew to the rich man, go and sell all you have and follow me. That dude was stunned. He had much and he could not see himself without it resulting in him loosing. What is a man to gain the world to loose his soul? Jesus knew the answer.
God said in Deuteronomy 6:5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. It was stated again in Luke 10:27 you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength, and all your mind. And “Love your neighbor as yourself” both from the NLT.
The wonderful results of obedience is blessings, grace, mercy, inheritance, heaven.
I suggest we do what He says or like the Father He Is, we will be chastened.
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