Category Archives: Obedience

Accountability, Bible, Choices, Devil, Listening, Obedience, Scripture

ARE YOU LISTENING?

GALATIANS 4:21

“Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the Law?”

Sometimes we get so excited about something that we forget to think about what we are doing. For example, buying a new car. When you go to that dealership and see all those beautiful, shiny cars, you lose all rational thought (lol). Sure, they can “put you in” one of those beauties today and you can drive it home. But part of that deal is you now have to pay the price – every month for years. You are a slave to that car loan.

Paul begins an analogy today that will last the rest of chapter 4. He is going to be comparing the sons born from Hagar and Sarah. The story will develop over the next several days. Bottom line – slavery and freedom. In today’s verse Paul asks the Galatians if they are really listening to what the law is requiring of them. The Greek word for “listen” is akouo, which means to hear to understand. Paul is asking them if they really listening to the requirements of the law, are they really going to sign on that dotted line.

APPLICATION

This applies to us so well. We “sign on” to the newest fads and trends without ever thinking about the long term results. All we need is Jesus. Jesus told us so in John 14:6. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” He wasn’t bragging or being egotistical. He was simply speaking the truth.

I love 2 Corinthians 5:17 because it shows us what we need. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” All that old stuff we clung to just goes away. We don’t have to lean on it. All we need is Jesus who has made us into a new creation. Don’t listen to the whispers of the evil one who wants to keep you in bondage.

What will you do with your freedom in Christ? How will you serve your new Master, one for whom you serve willingly? He is not a cruel taskmaster. No, He loves us and leads us. He never pushes us. And don’t let this freedom scare you. He’s there to walk you through it. He has a plan. Listen to Him.

O Lord, I want to tune my ears to hear only Your voice.

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Abiding, Bible, Commitment, Dedication, Following, Obedience, Scripture, Surrender

WHEN THE CAT’S AWAY…

GALATIANS 4:18

“But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable way, and not only when I am present with you.” 

You’ve heard that expression – When the cat’s away, the mice will play. Some people will only do what is right when someone is watching them. As a former supervisor, I had some employees like that. They were model employees as long as I was observing. But the moment I was out of sight, they would stop doing what was expected of them.

Paul seems to be saying something like that to the Galatians. I love how Barnes explains this. He says Paul was saying this. “You were exceedingly zealous in a good cause when I was with you. You loved the truth; you loved me. Since I left you, and as soon almost as I was out of your sight, your zeal died away, and your ardent love for me was transferred to others. Allow me to remind you, that it would be well to be zealous of good when I am away, as well as when I am with you. There is not much true affection in that which dies away as soon as a man’s back is turned.”

APPLICATION

Does that describe you? Are you zealous only when you think God is watching? I hate to tell you, but He is always watching. There is never a moment He does not know where you are and what you are doing. That reminds me of Psalm 139. Look at verses 7 through 12. “7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take up the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will take hold of me. 11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,’ 12 Even darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.”

Do you get the picture? God knows where you are. God knows what you’re doing. He expects us to love and obey because He loves us, not because He is standing over us and demanding it. Give Him honor today by your blind obedience to Him. Obey Him simply because you love Him. Just think of what He did because He loves you.

Father God, I want to be zealous for You at all times.

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Bible, Lies, Obedience, Responsibilities, Scripture, Truth

TELLING THE TRUTH

GALATIANS 4:16

“So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 

As parents we often tell our children to just tell the truth. Why? Because we want them to grow up doing that. Sometimes when we tell the truth it can be hard to hear. We are told to in Ephesians 4:25, “Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are parts of one another.” (Those caps point back to Zechariah 8:16)

Paul has been telling the Galatians the truth about their actions. Remember back in chapter 2 of Galatians Paul spoke the truth to Peter and rebuked him. Truth is hard sometimes, but he had to be truthful. Even at the risk of Peter turning on him, he had to tell the truth. Paul told us later in Ephesians 4:15 to speak the truth in love. “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ,” It’s all about being like Jesus, Who always spoke the truth because He is the Truth.

APPLICATION

In the ministry in which I serve, Every Man A Warrior, we have a commitment each man must sign in order to be a part of a group. #5 in the commitment states, “I will not be defensive if my brothers challenge me if I do not fulfill my commitment. I will welcome their challenge and seek greater faithfulness.” That is a big pill to swallow for a lot of guys. Some get mad, even though they signed the commitment.

Let me encourage you to speak the truth in love. Be gentle, but truthful. You may have to confront a fellow brother or sister’s sin. That’s hard. But we are told to bring our fellow believers back into fellowship and out of sin. Don’t be vengeful and try to find out stuff on people. That is not what Paul did. He saw the Galatians not living according to the teachings of Christ and confronted them.

Proverbs 27:5-6 says, “5 Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” I had much rather have a friend hurt me by telling me the truth than lie to me and wind up deeper in my sin. Hadn’t you? Is that easy to receive? No, it’s not, but it will draw us closer to our Savior. What will you do with this truth today?

O Lord, You are the Truth. Help me to live in truth daily.

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Bible, Children, Freedom, Guardian, Law, Obedience, Redemption, Scripture

GUARDIANS AND MANAGERS

GALATIANS 4:2

“but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.”

Have you ever seen the movie, Mary Poppins? It’s a story about a governess who is hired to care for and teach the children of a family. Julie Andrews plays the key role and does a magical job with the children. Her duties embodied the same duties discussed in today’s verse. However, back in Paul’s day there wasn’t as much magic used, lol.

Continuing the theme from yesterday, Paul explains how the minor child could not do as they pleased with their father’s estate. Normally a slave who was trustworthy would have been put in charge of the children for instruction. These same individuals may have often handled the family assets, thus controlling the disbursement of funds. This would probably have continued if the master of the home had passed until the minor child reached the age set by his father.

APPLICATION

The Law served as our guardian, dictating what we could and couldn’t do. There were strict rules to follow – what to eat, what to wear, etc. These can be found in the Old Testament books of Leviticus and Numbers, as well as other books. For the sake of time, we won’t read all of that. But let me encourage you to take the time, if you haven’t read these books, to dig into them. They are also part of God’s Word and should be read.

However, all those laws have been fulfilled through the atoning death of our Savior. He tells us in Matthew 5:17-18, “17 ‘Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!’”

Romans 10:4 says, “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” That’s the “age set by the father” to be released from the guardianship of the Law. When we accept Jesus, at whatever age that is, we are freed from the requirements of the Law. For me, that was at age 16. I am now an heir of the father’s estate and have full access to all He offers. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

O Father, You are far too good to me. May I bring Your honor and praise each day.

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Abiding, Belief, Bible, Decisions, Faith, Following, God's Will, Grace, Justified, Obedience, Righteousness, Salvation, Scripture

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

GALATIANS 3:11

“Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, ‘THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.’”

In March of 1969, a song was released by Frank Sinatra that gained worldwide popularity. “My Way” was an instant success. That song is still sung around the world. You should google the lyrics to that song and read them. Wow! It epitomizes self. Its premise is all that matters is that you do it your way.

In today’s verse, Paul emphatically states what he has been saying in this whole letter. Man is not justified by what he does for himself, by his works, by following the Law. He may feel better about himself, but that doesn’t matter in God’s eyes. God is concerned with faith, with confession of sin, not in how many works a person does or how good he feels about himself. There is no other way to the Father except faith in His Son, Jesus.

APPLICATION

The quote in today’s verse comes from Habakkuk 2:4. This is God talking to Habakkuk. “‘Behold, as for the impudent one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous one will live by his faith.’” Now, if God says it, that settles it. He says through faith we find righteousness. We know that only the righteousness of Christ can make us righteous, not what we do.

Paul uses this same quote in Romans 1:17. “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.’” Paul must have liked that verse in Habakkuk to use it in two letters. Better yet, he believed it to be true. Do you? Do you believe it is not up to you? Do you believe your righteousness has nothing to do with you and everything to do with Jesus?

An old hymn just popped into my head. Don’t you love it when that happens?  “Faith is the Victory” is a great hymn that describes our reliance on faith in our daily battles. The chorus simply says this:

Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

Go out today and be faithful. Place all your trust in Him and Him alone.

Father, I give You praise for the faith You have birthed within me.

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Abiding, Appeasement, Bible, Justified, Obedience, Reconciled, Salvation, Scripture

JUSTIFIED

GALATIANS 2:16

“nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”

I know some believers who work so hard to do things for God. I say “believers” because I truly believe they are Christians. However, they have been taught they must work, work and work because that is how we show we love God. It is as if they had to earn points to be justified in God’s eyes. Paul blows that out of the water with today’s verse.

Paul, a former Pharisee, knew the Law backwards and forwards. He could argue the merits of the Law with the best of them. So, when he says, “knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus,” he knows what he is talking about. As the saying goes Been There, Done That! Remember, Paul is addressing Peter and the other Jewish believers who had withdrawn from eating with the Gentiles. They can’t go back to keeping the Law as a means to gain salvation. It was only in Jesus.

APPLICATION

Let me ask you a question today. What are you so busy “doing” to try to please God? Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly says, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” I have to believe when Paul penned these words in Ephesians (somewhere between 60-64 A.D), he had to be thinking of the incident here in Antioch. That is purely my conjecture, though.

There is an old hymn that says, “We’ll work ‘til Jesus comes, we’ll work ‘til Jesus comes, we’ll work ‘til Jesus comes, and we’ll be gathered home.” Great sentiment, but not required. What about the dear saints who can’t do any works? Where do they stand with Jesus? Right in His arms, just like you.

I am NOT saying we should not do anything for God. James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). But I do not believe for a second that James, being a Jew, thought he had to “do” in order to “be.” Our works are the way we show our love for God. We want to be in His service daily. Rest assured, though, that your salvation is dependent on one thing – Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Glory!

I am so thankful, dear Lord, that I am secure in my salvation based on the blood of Jesus

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Accountability, Belief, Bible, Commands, Forgetting, Joy, Law, Obedience, Scripture

REMEMBERING THE IMPORTANT STUFF

MALACHI 4:4

“‘Remember the Law of Moses My servant, the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.’”

I have to admit that my memory is slipping a bit. I make a lot of lists to keep me from forgetting stuff. I am thankful for that Note app on my iPhone. I work hard at memorizing Scripture because I believe that will help my memory. But I still forget things that are important to me or others (Sorry, Chris).

The statute and ordinances which the Lord is referencing in verse 4 were not unknown to the people. They had heard them from the priest and scribes. They probably did not have their own copy, but they were expected to know and obey them. These had been around since Moses. That’s a long time. There was no excuse for forgetting them.

APPLICATION

Joshua 1:8 tells us, “‘This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success.’” This verse is the third verse we memorize in the Every Man A Warrior study. It is key to what we teach about Scripture.

While we are not under the Law anymore as Christians, we still have to obey the Lord’s commands all through Scripture. For instance, Deuteronomy 6:5-7 still applies to us today. “‘5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.’”

If we will remember God’s commands and obey, we will be blessed. If we don’t, we run the risk of falling into sin which always has its consequences. I have heard it said, “Joy never precedes obedience.” So, remember His commands, obey them and receive joy. We all want more of that, don’t we?

I have joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Thank You, Lord

P.S. For my frequent followers, I will be taking a short break when we finish Malachi in two days. I will pick back up on January 1. Pray that the Lord shows me where to go to next in our daily study.

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Accountability, Arrogance, Bible, Judgment, Obedience, Punishment, Righteousness, Scripture, Wickedness

UPSIDE DOWN

MALACHI 3:15

“‘“So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up, but they also put God to the test and escape punishment.”’”

There is an amusement attraction in Pigeon Forge, TN which is an upside down house. Everything inside that house is upside down. And people pay money to go inside. Now, that really doesn’t make any sense, lol. Life seems upside down at times, doesn’t it? Nothing makes sense. Everything is contrary to how things should be.

The murmuring people of Israel were claiming these falsehoods in verse 15. The arrogant were being called blessed. The doers of wickedness are built up, testing God and escaping punishment. The sad thing was they were saying these things to excuse their own bad behavior. If the world was so bad, nothing they did mattered. Sound familiar?

APPLICATION

Proverbs 21:24 says it well. “‘Proud,’ ‘Haughty,’ ‘Scoffer,’ are his names, who acts with insolent pride.” All around us today we see the same thing going on. Sometimes we may say to ourselves, “How can these wicked people get by with all this stuff they are doing?” It’s hard to imagine God tolerating them.

We see that explained in Isaiah 55:8-9. “8 ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. 9 ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” We will never understand the mind of God, therefore we will never understand why He allows the wicked to continue.

The real question is more personal. What are you doing that displeases Him? How are you living out your faith? What are you representing today for Christ? We are not responsible for the behavior of others, only ourselves. So, stop pointing your fingers at them and look inward. Check out yourself. Let others look at you in amazement as you live for Jesus.

I know I can only be held accountable for myself, Lord. Help me reflect Your glory.

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Bible, Blessing, Curses, Obedience, Offering, Scripture

BLESSING OR CURSE

MALACHI 3:9

“‘You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the entire nation of you!’”

I have had the privilege to travel a good bit the past few years with our ministry, Every Man A Warrior. As I have made friends and ministry partners in these countries, I have often received a parting blessing. Words cannot express how much that has meant to me. I also know that there are others in these countries who are actively cursing our ministry because they are under the influence of the evil one. I had much rather have the blessings.

And so, God speaks again to the people and tells them they are cursed because they are robbing Him of His tithes and offerings. Don’t misunderstand this. God isn’t an irritated and spiteful overlord who demands what is His. No! He wants them to be obedient and give so He can bless them. They are already suffering under this curse through poverty and famine. They are suffering physical want because they have not blessed the Lord with the first fruits of their labor.

APPLICATION

You may be suffering want yourself right now. Ask yourself if you are being obedient to the Lord in giving to Him as He demands. God wants to see us obedient so He can bless us beyond our wildest imaginations. We need to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, “so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:6b-7)

God’s cursing His children really is more about withdrawing His hand of blessing. God isn’t floating around on a cloud looking for people to zap with a thunderbolt. When we are disobedient and not walking with Him, we wander outside His umbrella of protection. We open ourselves up to the attacks of the evil one. That applies to any disobedience, not just in being unfaithful in our giving.

First and foremost, God does not need our tithes and offerings. He isn’t dependent on them. He wants you to give in order to receive. He wants you to give out of love for Him so He can bless you so you can give again and again. This is NOT all about money. Don’t forget that. Tomorrow’s verse is one of the most quoted verses out there concerning our tithes. Come back and see what the Lord has for us.

Father, help me to give to others with no expectation of receiving anything back. Your pleasure is all I seek.

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Accountability, Accused, Admonished, Bible, Modeling, Obedience, Reputation, Scripture, Testimony, Witnessing

YOU AIN’T NO GOOD

MALACHI 2:9

“‘So I also have made you despised and of low reputation in the view of all the people, since you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.’”

I can remember growing up in South Georgia and overhearing the “old timers” talking about some men in our small hometown. They would often say, “He is just ain’t no good.” For those of you not accustomed to Southernize, that means they were not good. These individuals had proven to be untrustworthy and prone to bad behavior in the community.

The Lord saw the same in the priests who had violated His covenant with the tribe of Levi. They had consistently ignored or twisted the Law to suit themselves. Therefore, the Lord had allowed the priests to sink to a level of disrespect and of low reputation among the people. Their privileged status was tattered.

APPLICATION

How is your reputation? How do others see you? As believers in Jesus Christ, we have a model to follow. We need to be the best representatives we can possibly be to the world. Think of one area in which you are struggling right now. Ask the Lord to help you with it so that you can improve your witness to others.

I have a friend who came to Christ but still struggled with smoking cigarettes. He always felt convicted and knew this habit was costing him in his testimony. When he finally gave it to the Lord, he was able to quit. He no longer smells like a chimney (lol) and has a stronger testimony of what the Lord can do for you.

Just take a look at what Paul said in Philippians 2:14-15. “14 Do all things without complaining or arguments; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world…” How can I add to that?

Father, guard my thoughts and actions so that I may be considered “above reproach” by You.

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