Obedience


In the above picture is how the majority of people live, survival mode, especially in this economy. However, we were not created to merely make it, to barely get by. It feels that way at times, but the more I study His Word, the more I am seeing that as we obey Him and submit to His will and walk in His ways everything we need is already given to us. We do not realize the full power we posses as Christians through the Spirit. We live below our means spiritually because we have not yet learned to fully obey and love Jesus. I've been reading Deuteronomy 8 over and over here lately, it talks about obedience. This is something God has been teaching me lately, and something I've had to put into practice over the last several months, and should always walk out. Obedience is more than not doing bad things anymore, we obey with our heart, mind, body, finances, and will (we do have freewill as human beings). Obedience leads to blessing, HE does honor our obedience. As we read in Deuteronomy 8 the context is the children of Israel are on Jordan River with the Promise land in sight. A few verses that jump out is verse 3-4:
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word[a] that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.

Real life comes by feeding on the Word of God. Notice that this is also what Jesus told Satan when he was in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. He referenced scripture, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone!" There it is! God took care of them in the wilderness, 40 years wandering in the desert eating manna and drinking from rocks and other various objects. That's what you call survival mode. But God was humbling them, and in the process made sure they had what they needed. It blows my mind. The promised land was in sight, all they had to do was obey and trust Him.
Obedience calls us to some hard places doesn't it? But be assured, His Word gives us purpose and will in life. There is a promised land still, and though you might be in the wilderness right now, the Lord is taking care of you. Obey Him, thank Him for the manna, stay planted in His Word so that His principles and values form the foundation of all we think and do.
If we love Him we will obey Him. Loving and obeying Jesus is the way of a true disciple. God revealed that to me today in my quiet time.

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