Good day dear friends.
Let us remember those in the path of Hurricane Emily. May the Lord bless and protect them. We pray all may reach safety before the forces of this storm reach people.
Yesterday I shared sermon three of this series with Obedience being one of the Marks of a Disciple. We used two main texts, Matthew 21:28
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He answered, “I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir’; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
and Daniel 1, the story of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and their obedience to God.
Our study guide will mention a text that I did not use in the sermon but will share it with you below. Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: Read the passages from Sunday again. In the version of The Lord’s Prayer, what is different in that version for you? What jumps out of your regarding our obedience? Have you ever thought about this prayer of Jesus as a prayer from us, reminding us of OUR obligations towards God? What do you think about this?
Matthew 6:9 Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. 10 Set the world right; Do what’s best - as above, so below. 11 Keep us alive with three square meals. 12 Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. 13 Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. 14 “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. 15 If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
Obedience is trusting and obeying. Obedience is written all over this prayer. Jesus shared it with His disciples and with us so that we might have the faith He had when it came to His heavenly Father. The words of the prayer may read as a form of expectations from God but in reality they're words of expectations of attitude and servitude from us. This prayer is the basis of an obedient life for a disciple of the Lord's. Is it God's responsibility or ours to reveal Who He is? When it comes to God's will being done on earth, what is our responsibility of obedience to that will? Do we expect God to become Meals on Wheels or should we remember to give thanks to God for the meals we eat, thanking God for jobs, careers, opportunities, etc. that has made our eating possible? Is it only God's role to be merciful, or do we share in that of showing mercy to others (HINT: Come next Sunday! It's our sermon topic!) And does God really lead US to temptation? I think most of us are pretty good at finding it; we should ask God to keep us from falling into it. As we enjoy this faith, shouldn't we be sharing it with others?
Tell somebody. It's one of our disciplines. Just share. Just open your mouth and tell someone how wonderful and awesome God truly is. Pray first and you'll be amazed at what God will do with that seed of faith you can plant in someone's soul just by saying, "God is good."
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be obedient. Let me truly understand what it means to trust You in such a way that I can bless others. Let me indeed do what I sang yesterday to "Trust and Obey." Amen.
Have a safe and blessed day!
e.v.
Graphic is of Abraham, whose life was a story of obedience before God!
