BENEFITS OF CONSISTENT OBEDIENCE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY APRIL 08, 2021.

SUBJECT : BENEFITS OF CONSISTENT OBEDIENCE!

Memory verse: "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved." (Mark 13 vs 13.)

READ: Philippians 2 vs 5 - 11: 

2:5: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 

2:6: who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

2:7: but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

2:8: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross.

2:9: Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given him the name which is above every name,

2:10: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth,

2:11: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

INTIMATION:

We should strive to be consistent in our obedience. Heroic spiritual lives are built by stacking days of obedience one on top of the other. Like a brick, each obedient act is small in itself, but in time the acts will pile up, and a huge wall of strong character will be built to form a great defense against temptation. 

Consider Jesus Christ, who has always existed with God; He is equal to God because He is God. Though Jesus Christ is God, He became a man in order to fulfill God's plan of salvation for all people. Jesus actually became a human to identify with our sins; He voluntarily laid aside His divine rights and privileges out of love for, and obedience to His Father. Christ died on the cross for our sins, and God glorified Him because of His consistent obedience to the end. He highly exalted Him  and given Him the name above every name.

Therefore, if we say we follow Christ, we must also say we want to live as He lived, and strive to live as He lived. He is our role model, and we are called Christians because we are expected to be Christlike. To believe in Jesus "to the end" will take perseverance because our faith will be challenged and opposed. Severe trials will sift true Christians from fair-weather believers. Enduring to the end does not earn salvation for us but marks us as already saved, and an evidence that we are really committed to Jesus. The assurance of our salvation will keep us strong in times of persecution. Persistence or consistency is the by product of a truly devoted life.

Consider the difference between Samuel, the last judge of Israel, and Saul, Israel's first king. Saul, the king, was characterized by inconsistency, disobedience, and self-will. He did not have a heart for God. Samuel, the judge, was characterized by consistency, obedience, and a deep desire for God's Will. He had a genuine desire for God. For instance, when God called Samuel, he said, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears" (First Samuel 3 vs 10). But when God, through Samuel, called Saul, he replied, "Why then do you speak like this to me?" (First Samuel 9 vs 21). Saul was more dedicated to himself while Samuel was dedicated to God. Saul, in his inconsistency, tried to please God by spurts of religiosity, but real spirituality takes a lifetime of consistent obedience.

In Second Chronicles 26 vs 4 - 5, King Uzziah was remembered for doing what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He sought God in the days of prophet Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. But when he was strong his heart was lifted up to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense (Second Chronicles 26 vs 16).

For much of his life, Uzziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. But when he turned away from God, he was struck with leprosy and remained leprous until his death (Second Chronicles 26 vs 21). Today, he is remembered more for his arrogant act and subsequent punishment than for his great reforms.

God requires lifelong obedience. Spurts of obedience are not enough. Only "he who endures to the end" will be rewarded. Be remembered for your consistent faith, being consistent in your faith every day, that way you will build a lifetime of obedience. Otherwise you, too, may become more famous for your downfall than for your success.

Prayer: Abba Father, I want to live like Christ did; consistent in my obedience to You till the end. Strengthen me in my strive, and help me to live like Christ, and for You, in Jesus' Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!