I love going to church; I love hearing the Word of the Lord; and I love fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters in Christ. All of this in my opinion, are acts of worship. Everything we do to draw closer to God is worship, and we should be doing plenty of it. God wants us to pray to Him, to seek Him, to humble ourselves before Him, and to turn from our wicked ways as He asks us to do. When we are acting in obedience, God is pleased.
I also love when preachers preach and when ministers minister. I mean tell you straight up what the Word of God says without worrying about stepping on toes or upsetting someone. Or they minister to you from a biblical perspective. I believe people are relieved when the preacher or other ministers are driving a point home then let up. They could have a sinner ready to surrender right then; nervous, feeling guilty, shaking, crying ugly and everything, and they ease up on a point they were making. They give the sinner, including me, a chance to escape out the side doors. We then try to tune out the rest of the message or we just get up and leave.
Well my friends, there is no escape for disobedience to the Word and God’s will for us. There is no escape when we detour off God’s path. And if you are truly a child of the King, He is your escape. Period! John 10:28-30 reads, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
You see, if you are His, whether you’ve made your submission yet or not, the only place you’ll be free is in Him. He wants relationship with you. He wants to love you and you to love Him back. He wants your obedience. He wants you to follow His will.
1 Samuel 15:22–23 reads, “But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So, because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”
When we obey God, we show our trust and faith in him. 1 John 2:3-6, reads “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
I believe that Love is the answer to the various problems we face in the world because our great God is LOVE. Worldly opposition, infighting, racism, hate, pride, greed, socio-economical status, even stupidity can be resolved through Love. The books of John clearly explain that obedience to God demonstrates love for God. Loving God implies following his commands. 1 John 5:2-3 reads, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” 2 John 6 says, “Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.” If we know His will, we need to do it!
Being obedient to God is an act of worship. While the Bible places a strong emphasis on obedience, it’s critical to remember that believers are not made righteous by obedience. Salvation is a free gift of God, through grace, and we can do nothing to merit it. True Christian obedience flows from a heart of gratitude for that grace we received from the Lord. Letting our bodies be a living and holy sacrifice is truly the way to worship him. (Romans 12:1 NLT)
We can experience holy living by showing obedience to God. But disobedience leads to death. Isaiah 28:14-16 reads, “You leaders in Jerusalem should listen to the Lord’s message, but now you refuse to listen to him. You have said, “We have made an agreement with death. We have a contract with death. So we will not be punished. Punishment will pass us without hurting us. We will hide behind our tricks and lies. Because of these things, the Lord God says, “I will put a rock—a cornerstone—in the ground in Zion. This will be a very precious stone. Everything will be built on this very important rock. Anyone who trusts in that rock will not be disappointed.”’
Let me tell you straight up. Being in Christ is our only escape. Tuning out the preacher or escaping out the side doors will not save you. When you are pointed to the Cross, Do Not Run Away! Give in to that great Love. It can save you, and It can save the world. Romans 2:12-16 reads, “When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.”
Folks, God does not play! And He doesn’t want us to play with Him either. He is the Evaluator and Judge, and everything about Him and His Son is REAL. God’s son, Jesus, is the purpose of life and He wants you to be on the winning side. So, tighten up on your relationship with the Lord. I am just a Wrench – er (tool) trying to help. Enhance your relationship through prayer. Ask not to be destroyed in His anger. Ask for His mercy and grace and tell God you love Him. Tell Him you’re sorry for all the wrong you’ve done and ask for forgiveness. Mean it; demonstrate your sincerity by living it and forgiving others. Allow the Holy One to control your life. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.
Remember; there is no escape out the side doors. The only escape of the mire you’re in, is to be All In with the Lord Jesus. To God be the glory, amen and amen!
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