TRUSTING GOD WITH YOUR MONEY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MAY 8, 2020.

SUBJECT : TRUSTING GOD WITH YOUR MONEY!

Memory verse: "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." (Luke 16 vs 10.)

READ: Luke 16 vs 11 - 13:

16:11: Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 

16:12: And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? 

16:13: No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 

INTIMATION:

Jesus said that trusting God in the area of your money (mammon) is the least area of trust. He called money "that which is least" (Luke 16 vs 10). What an incredible statement! It is completely contrary to the way most believers think. Our integrity often meets its match in money matters. If you can’t trust God in that which is least, how can you trust Him in that which higher. You can't do greater things without doing the lesser things first. If you can't lift five pounds weight, then you certainly shouldn't go out and try to lift a hundred pounds weight. You have to start with what is least and work your way up. If you can't walk ten paces, then you can't climb a mountain. Jesus' teaching clearly shows that trusting God with your money is the list use of your faith. If you can't do that which is least, how then can you trust Him for the greater things. 

Money has the power to take God's place in your life, hence Jesus called it “unrighteous mammon.” Most people cling to their money and possessions for fear of losing them and not getting another. Clinging to your money out of fear that God won't provide for you, and then trying to say you are believing God for other things, like healing or restoration, is like saying, "I can't jump three feet, but I will compete in long jump in Olympics. It doesn't work that way. If you aren't trusting God in your money (that which is least), then you are deceiving yourself thinking you can trust Him with your eternal salvation or anything else. That is profound!

Though everything has been provided for us in the Scriptures, but you can't have them because probably you won't trust God for big things until you can trust Him for little things as mammon first. Trusting God with your money is much more important than it has been given credit. Many people are trying to bypass this issue and move on to bigger things, but it won't work. Just like other areas of life, you have to start at the beginning and work your way up. 

Remember, Jesus said that you can't serve two masters (Luke 16 vs 13.) You can't trust yourself when it comes to money and then trust God with everything else. It isn't effective to compartmentalize your faith so that you are trying to trust God in one area, but not in others. If you are going to trust God, then trust Him all the way. The same God who promised eternal life when you confess Jesus as your Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10 vs 9), also said to give and it would be given back to you. (Luke 6 vs 38.)

Heaven's riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth. But if you are not trustworthy with your money that is equated to that which is the least, you will be unfit to handle the vast riches of God's kingdom that starts with the gift of salvation. If your integrity slips off you in small matters as money, it will eventually fail you in crucial decisions either. God calls us to be honest even in small details we could easily rationalize away. Such small details God has equated with money. 

If you aren't seeing greater things come to pass in your life, the reason may very well be that you aren't trusting God with "that which is least." Believing for your family to be restored, for healing to manifest in your body, are all infinitely greater than believing for finances. If you haven't started trusting God with your finances yet, how can you go beyond that and trust Him to heal your body? How can you trust God to give you eternal life, but not trust Him to provide for your physical needs? Not trusting God with your money, in my considered opinion, is a demonstration of your love of money. The apostle Paul’s warning on the love of money, in First Timothy 6 vs 10, is as clear as the day, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Be wise!

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit complete trust in, and obedience to You in all things, even in that which is least—money—that I will be fit for Your heavenly riches, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE STRUGGLE WITH THE DEFEATED FOE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MAY 7, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE STRUGGLE WITH THE DEFEATED FOE!

Memory verse:  "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public show of them, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2 vs 15.) 

READ: Colossians 2 vs 10 - 15:

2:10: And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power:
2:11: In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 
2:12: buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
2:13: And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 
2:14: having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 

2:15: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public show of them, triumphing over them in it.

INTIMATION:

The Christian’s struggle is not against the physical things of this world (John 18 vs 36 - 38). His struggle is a spiritual battle against the deceptive devices of Satan who seeks to change the moral values of those who are willing to live according to their own desires as opposed to the will of God. Satan is very busy tempting us, inviting us to give in to his kind of life, and give up on God’s kind of life. He can imitate parts of God’s work to deceive people. After getting Eve to sin, he’s been busy getting people to sin, making them doubt God’s goodness, implying that God is strict, selfish, and difficult. Just as he did to Eve, he makes people forget about all the countless blessings and promises God has given them, and instead, focus on what God has restricted or forbidden.

The source of all evil that is seen in the world is Satan and his demonic forces that are at work in order to destroy the work of God through Jesus. Through deception, Satan has instigated those institutions and governments that control society to lead people against the truth of God. He works through the false religions and mystical beliefs of those who do not know God or desire to know the truth of God. The saints must be aware that Satan is alive and working in a deceived world of secular enticements and religious misdirection. 

Though, the battle with Satan is a difficult, ongoing struggle. Victory over sin and temptation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through our efforts. The critical blow to Satan came when the Lamb, Jesus Christ, shed His blood for our sins. The victory is won by sacrifice—Christ’s death in our place to pay the penalty for our sin, and the sacrifices we make because of our faith in Him. As we face the battle with Satan, we should not fear it or try to escape from it, but we should loyally serve Christ, who alone brings victory (See Romans 8 vs 34 - 39).

The word “disarmed” is from a military word that referred to the stripping off of the enemies armor after his defeat in battle. Through the cross, Jesus stripped Satan of his power to reign through sin and death. He freed those who come to God’s grace by their faith. What men could not do by their own through performance of the law that brought sin and death, God accomplished through the gospel of grace. He reached forth with grace in order to save those who responded to Him through obedient faith. By the work of Jesus on the cross, Satan has thus been stripped of his power over the souls of men. 

What the world saw as the public humiliation of a Jew on a cross outside Jerusalem was actually the humiliation of Satan in the spiritual realm. Satan now has no power over those who determine to walk in the light. We have war with a defeated enemy. Everything that Jesus did is accredited to us. He didn't conquer Satan for Himself. He didn't put sin away for Himself. He didn't suffer the judgement that would have fallen upon the sinners for Himself. But He suffered it on our behalf, and we have entered into His victory, it is accredited to us. The defeated enemy rules us by subterfuge, by bluff, by deception. He put diseases upon us and hold us in bondage through our ignorance of what we are in Christ and what inheritance in Him.

The Christian’s strength is maintained if he or she remains in fellowship with the Lord who is the source of power against Satan. This imperative command places the responsibility for being strong on the shoulders of the Christian. The Holy Spirit does not assume responsibility for keeping the Christian strong. The responsibility for faithfulness is with free-moral saints who must maintain the spiritual armor of the Lord by which strength is maintained against the wiles of Satan. The individual who will be held accountable for himself must spiritually clothe himself with those things that have already been revealed. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for all You wrought for us in redemption in Christ. Give me grace to lay claim, and exercise my rights in Christ, that the accuser of brethren will be far away from me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BE CAUTIOUS WHEN YOU SPEAK!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MAY 6, 2020.

SUBJECT: BE CAUTIOUS WHEN YOU SPEAK!

Memory verse: "You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth.” (Proverbs 6 vs 2.)

READ: James 3 vs 2, 5, 8 - 12:

3:2: For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

3:5: Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

3:8: But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

3:9: With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God?

3:10: Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not be so.

3:11: Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 

3:12: Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

INTIMATION:

Our words are integral part of ourselves; they are ourselves. You create a mental condition with your words. Your words, coming from your heart, goes out into the air to thrill and throb in the hearts of those that listen. If your words are full of love and peace and fidelity, they are born out of your heart life. Life is largely made of words. We declare war with words. Divorces and defeats are made up of words. Children become what words make them.

What you say and what you don’t say are both important. To use proper speech you must not only say the right words at the right time but also not say what you shouldn’t. Examples of an untamed tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying. Before you speak, ask, “Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before you speak, remember that words are like fire; you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.

The mouth can be used either as a weapon or a tool, hurting relationships or building them up. Sadly, it is often easier to destroy than to build, and most people have received more destructive comments than those that build up. Every person you meet today is either a demolition site or a construction opportunity. Your words will make a difference. Will they be weapons for destruction or tools for construction? Our contradictory speech often puzzles us. At times our words are right and pleasing to God, but at other times they are violent and destructive. You might be imprisoned with your own words. You talked failure and failure held you in bondage. You said that you did not have faith, and doubt arose like a giant and bound you. You said that you could not, and the moment that you said it you were whipped.

Few of us realize that our words dominate us. A young man said, "I was never whipped until I confess I was whipped." Another said, "The moment I began to make a bold, confident confession, a new courage that I had never known took possession of me." Another young woman said, "My lips have been a constant curse. I have never been able to get the mastery of my lips." 

A woman said the other day, "I always speak my mind." She has few friends. Only pity causes people to go see her. Her lips have been her curse. It isn't so bad speaking your mind if you have the mind of Christ, but as long as you have a mind dominated by the devil, few people care to hear your mind. When our speech is motivated by Satan, it is full of bitter envy, selfish ambition, earthly concerns and desires, unspiritual thoughts and ideas, confusion, and evil. But when our speech is motivated by God and His wisdom, it is full of mercy, love for others, peace, consideration for others, submission, sincerity, impartiality, and righteousness.

Learn to use words so they will work for you and be your servants. Learn that your lips make you a millionaire or a pauper; wanted or despised; a victor or a captive. Cultivate the habit of thinking big things, and then learn to use words that will react upon your own spirit and make you a conqueror. Your faith will never register above the words of your lips. Thoughts may come and persist in staying, but you refuse to put them into words and they die unborn.

Learn from our Messiah, His confessions proved to be realities. Jesus confessed that He is the Light of the World. He is it. The rejection of Him has plunged the world into a new darkness. He said He was the bread from heaven, and it is true. The people who feeds upon His Words never suffer want. His Words were filled with Himself, as we act on them, they fill us with Christ. We were made in God’s image, but the tongue gives us a picture of our basic sinful nature. God works to change us from the inside out. When the Holy Spirit purifies a heart, He gives self-control so that the person will speak words that please God. The believer's words should be born of love and filled with love. Our words should never bruise or hurt, but should bless and heal. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I know the creative power of words, for the world was created by spoken words, and by my words I will be justified, and by my words I will be condemned. Bridle my tongue, O Most High, endue me with spirit of self-control that I may speak words abundant in love, trust, and confidence in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE MISPLACED TRUST!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MAY 5, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE MISPLACED TRUST!

Memory verse: "And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and saith to them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10 vs 24.)

READ: Matthew 6 vs 19 - 21:

6:19:Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
6:20: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal:
6:21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

INTIMATION:

To trust is to believe or have confidence in. Another word for trust is faith or believe. To trust or believe in someone or something is to depend on it. A trust is misplaced when the object of trust or confidence is eroded occasioned by the lack of the object living up to expectation. When we place our trust in our earthly possessions, instead of in God who created all those things, our trust is misplaced. In the passage we read today, Jesus contrasts the physical and temporal things of this world with the eternal, spiritual things that will endure the destruction of the physical (Second Peter 3 vs 10 - 12). 

Looking at the world around us, we can see that money has tremendous power. It obviously enables us to do things we can't otherwise do, and it gives us a certain level of respect and great confidence. The Scripture buttressed this point in Ecclesiastes 10 vs 19; 7 vs 12 when it says, "Money answers all things." And "..Money is a defense." This calls to mind the slang 'Money speaks' for those you trust in money. Consequently, many begin to trust more in the power of money than they do in the power of God—the Creator of all things. Many people erroneously think that wealth is the easiest way to get all they want. Those who pursue its empty promises will one day discover that they have nothing because they are spiritually bankrupt.

We live in a materialistic society where many people serve money. They spend all their lives collecting and storing it, only to die and leave it behind. Their desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters. Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. Don’t fall into the materialistic trap, trust in the Creator, not the created. Can you honestly say that God, not money, is your master? One test is to ask yourself which one occupies more of your thoughts, time, and efforts.

Jesus made it clear that having wrong treasures leads to our hearts being in the wrong place. What we treasure the most controls us, whether we admit it or not. If possessions or money become too important to us, we must re-establish control or get rid of items. Jesus calls for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen eternal value over temporary earthly treasures. Treasures that we possess on earth can easily be consumed or taken away from us. By concentrating on those things that are above this earth, one places earthly things in the right perspective. 

Jesus contrasted heavenly values with earthly values when He explained that our first loyalty should be to those things that do not fade, cannot be stolen or used up, and never wear out. We should not be fascinated with our possessions, lest they possess us. God alone deserves to be our master. Either we store our treasures with God, focus our eyes on Him, and serve Him alone, or else we do not serve Him at all. The crown of righteousness in heaven awaits those who have forsaken the treasures of the world (Second Timothy 4 vs 8). 

Prayer: Abba Father, all things are Yours. My total trust and confidence in You. Give me the grace never to shift my trust and focus on You, for anything, in any circumstances, and by anything, in Jesus’ Name I prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY MAY 4, 2020.

SUBJECT: BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE! 

Memory verse: "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

 (Hebrew

s 13 vs 5.)

READ: Philippians 4 vs 11 - 13:

4:11: Not that I speak in regard of need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.

4:12: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

INTIMATION:

To be content primarily signifies to be sufficient, to be satisfied, to be enough for a thing. Contentment is the direct opposite of covetousness—greed, dissatisfaction, lustful, envious. Contentment ought to be a prevailing factor in the life of every believer. This is because it underscores the knowledge and understanding of God; the Owner of the world, and in Him all things consist. He created all things for His purposes, and according to His plans. He knows all our individual needs to serve His purpose, and promises to provide such needs (Matthew 6 vs 32). Therefore, no one is in contention with any other, and we should be content with what He has given us respectively.

We become content when we realize God's sufficiency for our needs. Believers who become materialistic are saying by their actions that God can't take care of them, or at least, that He won't take care of them the way they want. Insecurity can lead to the love of things of this world, which then breeds enmity with God (James 4 vs 4). The only antidote is to put God first in your life, and trust God to meet all your needs (Matthew 6 vs 33). See God’s love expressed in what He has provided, and remember the futility of earthly desires; that the world and all that is in it will one day pass away (First John 2 vs 17).

How can you learn to be content? Most importantly See life from God’s point of view; strive to live with less rather than desiring more; give away out of your abundance rather than accumulating more; relish what you have rather than resent what you're missing. See God's love expressed in what He has provided, and put Him first in everything. The apostle Paul was content because he could see life from God’s point of view. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have. Paul has his priorities straight, and he was grateful for everything God had given him. Paul had detached himself from the nonessentials so that he could concentrate on the eternal.

The apostle Paul was an epitome of contentment. He was content both in plenty and in need. The secret was his drawing on Christ’s power for strength, hence his acknowledgement of being able to do all things by the strength of God. Do you have great needs, or are discontented because you don’t have what you want? Learn to rely on God’s promises and Christ’s power to help you be content. If you always want more, ask God to remove the desire and teach you contentment in every circumstance. He will supply all your needs, but in a way that He knows is best for you.

Paul said in First Timothy 6 vs 6 - 7, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” 

This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We should honor God and center our desires on Him (Matthew 6 vs 33), and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives. Those who desire to have more, or be rich have always fallen into temptations and snares, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which had drawn them into destruction and perdition. In so doing, they strayed from the faith in their greediness, and are pierced with many sorrows (First Timothy 6 vs 9 - 10).

Now, the question is, “Are you able to be content (get along happily) in any circumstances you face?” Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power. And remember, the contented is never poor, but the discontented is never rich.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are our great Provider. A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from You. My needs are already known to You. Endue me with the spirit of contentment, obedience, and absolute trust in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

MONEY STEWARDSHIP!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY MAY 3, 2020.

SUBJECT: MONEY STEWARDSHIP!

Memory verse: "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven." (John 3 vs 27.)

READ: LUKE 16 vs 9 - 13:

16:9: And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by the unrighteous mammon that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting home.

16:10: He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 

16:11: Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true richest? 

16:12: And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?

16:13: No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

INTIMATION:

Money is a sore subject that a lot of people want to avoid, but in my considered opinion, learning how God views money is basic Christianity. Many people see making a living as resulting from the sweat of their brow, and they don't see God as their source. They separate their lives into spiritual matters, like heaven and hell, and other matters like career and finances. When it concerns spiritual matters they rely on God, and firmly commit their lives to Him, but when it comes to other matters, it becomes their baby. For instance, when it is money, they think it's all up to them, and view it as something they must control, and such ownership mentality leads to a lot of problems. 

God is the source of everything in our lives. He never intended us to carry any burden, including financial responsibility. He wants to lift that burden from you. A lot of Christians say they know God is the source of everything, but their lives don't reflect the understanding of that truth. They think that money comes by their own sweat and efforts, then they keep a much tighter hold on it. When you become attached to your money, it actually becomes your master. But when you see yourself as a steward and recognize money as God's blessing, even though you work for your paychecks, it totally changes the role money plays in your life. It ceases to control you and simply becomes a tool. 

The Scripture says in Deuteronomy 8 vs 18, "And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth...." You may be out in the world actually doing the work you get paid for, but you need to develop the mindset that the money you receive doesn't belong to you; it belongs to God. Remember, God gave you your talents and abilities, and every good things you have is a blessing from Him. God entrusted you with all of your finances, and it is important to develop the mindset of being a steward over God's money, not yours.

The first step toward becoming responsible with your money is to get this mindset that it does not belong to you. Instead of clinging to your money, you need to think: “I am a steward of what God has entrusted to me. He has blessed me with talents, abilities, job, wisdom, and all the resources I have. I have the responsibility to serve God with all He has given me.” The Bible has more to say about money than most Bible doctrines like heaven and hell, or faith and prayer. Jesus taught more on the subject than any other single topic. In fact one quarter of Jesus' teachings is based on money. 

Jesus thought that people's attitude towards money reveal their hearts. Our integrity often meets its match in money matters. God calls us to be honest even in small details we could easily rationalize away. Most importantly, there is a direct relationship between how you manage the earthly blessings entrusted to you, and your inheritance of the vast heavenly riches. Heaven's riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth. But if we are not trustworthy with our money here (no matter how much or little we have), we will be unfit to handle the vast riches of God's kingdom. 

Jesus taught on stewardship over what has been given to us in the parable in the passage we read today. His teaching points out the function and attitude of a steward. A steward is a person who manages someone else's property, finances, or affairs. As Christians we are stewards, and we need to recognize that the money we have is not really ours; it's a gift from God (Psalm 50 vs 12), entrusted with us by Him to do His services. 

You may have worked for the money you have. May be you work from morning till night, or you may be working two jobs, or you have scrimped for years to get a little savings, and so the money you have accumulated seems like the result of your own efforts. I understand that way of thinking, but, in reality, it isn't true. God is the giver of everything we have. First of all, God gave you life. Only the living can say I have this or that, or I am this or that. He gave you all that you, and you are only a steward for all He has given you.

Prayer: Abba Father, the earth is Yours and all therein. All I have is Yours, and Yours I am. Engrace me with the steward mentality that I will manage adequately the money and other blessings You bestowed on me, all to Your glory, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

OBEDIENCE BEGETS GOD’S GLORY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MAY 2, 2020.

SUBJECT: OBEDIENCE BEGETS GOD’S GLORY!

Memory verse: "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to Him.” (John 14 vs 21.)

READ: Genesis 22 vs 15 - 18:

22:15: Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,

22:16: and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—

22:17: blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

22:18: In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.

INTIMATION:

When we generally think of obedience, we think of doing what one is instructed to do. For instance, in speaking to our children we may say, "Will you please obey me and do what you are told?" What we mean is, "Please carry out my instructions." Such uses are not far removed from the intended meaning of Scripture, but far enough that the true essence of the word is lost. Obedience to God is more than submission to authority; it is submission based on love for God, believe, and trust in Him, and persuasion that He is God. Obedience is manifested in one’s conduct and may be observed. When a man demonstrates his obedience to God in his actions, he gives the only possible evidence that in his heart he believes God. Believe or faith is of the heart—you believe in your heart, and is invisible to man, but your outward expression of your inward faith is manifested in your actions of obedience. 

In the passage we read today, we saw the glory of God upon Abraham because of his obedience to Him; in blessing he was so blessed that he was rich in all things; his descendants were so multiplied that the entire earth are his descendants, either through Isaac or Ishmael. And through his seed the whole earth is blessed in the Person of our Savior Jesus Christ. Abraham never hesitated in carrying out God’s instructions, no matter how hard it seemed. He immediately went to sacrifice his only son, whom he gave birth to at the age of 100years. He never had a second thought nor consulted with anybody on God’s instruction, and obeyed immediately. 

Jesus said that His followers show their love for Him by obeying Him. Love is more than lovely words; it is commitment and conduct. God is so delighted in our obedience to Him. Consequently, our obedience occasions the manifestation of Himself to us, and we are assured of the love of the Father. Jesus, our role model, was obedient to the Father, even to the point of a shameful death on the cross, in order that God’s Will would be accomplished for mankind. Consequently, God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, things in earth, and things under the earth. What will be more glorious than this?

The consequences of disobedience are grave. It is likened to rebellion and stubbornness to God. Rebellion and stubbornness are serious sins. They involve far more than being independent and strong-minded. Scriptures equates them with divination (witchcraft) and idolatry (First Samuel 15 vs 23). Rebellion against God is perhaps the most serious sin of all because as long as a person rebels, he or she closes the door of forgiveness and restoration with God.

God considers our obedience better than our sacrifices and offerings. Christians today always make religious rituals, sacrifices, and offerings; like going to church, taking communion, paying tithes, and so on. God doesn't want these sacrifices and offerings without an attitude of devotion (obedience) to Him. He doesn't have any need of these activities, they have no effect on His status, or nature. Sacrifices and offerings are all for our benefits. But benefits from God to us on these activities are only derivable on the platform of raw and complete obedience to God, otherwise they are empty if our reasons for doing them are selfish. 

The prophet Samuel told Saul, "To obey is better than sacrifice" (First Samuel 15 vs 22). All we should do is to give God the obedience and lifelong service He desires from us, and He will benefit us as the Scripture says, "You shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1 vs 19). Sacrifices and offerings are not bribes to make God overlook our character faults. All God wants is our sincere faith and devotion. The Christian rituals, sacrifices, and offerings are to be outward sign of an inward faith in God. 

Many today have come to place more faith in the rituals of their religion than in God they worship. God does not take pleasure in your outward expressions if your inward faith is missing (Hosea 6 vs 6). Though religious rituals can help people understand God and nourish their relationship with Him, but they are helpful only if it is carried out with an attitude of love and obedience to God.

Prayer: Abba Father, my utmost heart desire is for an intimate relationship with You in total submission to Your Will. Endue me with the spirit of raw and complete obedience to You, and let my outward actions be a manifestation of my inward trust in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!