by Wendy Elizabeth Middleton
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-22
You can never earn heaven. There is nothing that you can do to make yourself good enough. Salvation is a gift freely given. Grace comes from the abundant mercy of God. But…
There is proof that the gift has been accepted. There is proof that the Holy Spirit is dwelling in the life of the believer. Believing is not enough. Even the demons believe – and shudder. (James 2:19)
You can do many good works in this life, thinking that these things will earn you a ticket to heaven, that God will be proud of all that you did for him. You can beat yourself up for every tiny sin, for every misspoken word, and wrong turn, thinking that self-flagellation will appease the wrath of God. You can give every penny you earn to charity, you can spend all of your free time visiting prisons or working in soup kitchens, thinking that God will crown you with a crown of glory in heaven because you lived in self imposed poverty on earth. And you would be wrong.
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28
If you try, on your own, to obey the Ten Commandments then you have already broken the first one: God first. Believe in God and accept that he is the boss of you.
Children hear their parents when they say no, but if the child does it anyway then he isn’t listening. Obedience is required. Obedience is the proof that the gift has been accepted. Obedience is the proof that the Holy Spirit is dwelling in the life of the believer.
Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Submit first, that means seek the will of God not what you think he wants but what he says he wants. Don’t kill anybody – yes – but also don’t hate anybody. Don’t steal other people’s stuff – yes – but also don’t steal the joy that others could have if you didn’t keep the joy all to yourself. Trust God to know what is best for your life, because He does know what is best for your life.
Submit first then resist because resistance without submission has no power.
The first commandment is to love God and “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15. God is very clear on his commands: Justice, Mercy, and Humility. These are activities, not passivity’s. Sitting on a pew every Sunday and hearing the word of God is of no use if you do not get off of the pew and obey.
Repent and obey.
Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Submit first, that means seek the will of God not what you think he wants but what he says he wants. Don’t kill anybody – yes – but also don’t hate anybody. Don’t steal other people’s stuff – yes – but also don’t steal the joy that others could have if you didn’t keep the joy all to yourself. Trust God to know what is best for your life, because He does know what is best for your life.
Submit first then resist because resistance without submission has no power.
The first commandment is to love God and “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15. God is very clear on his commands: Justice, Mercy, and Humility. These are activities, not passivity’s. Sitting on a pew every Sunday and hearing the word of God is of no use if you do not get off of the pew and obey.
Repent and obey.
Turn away from sin and turn towards God. This is a 180-degree U-turn. Look at Paul on the road to Damascus, He was passionate about doing what He thought was the will of God, he heard the words, he knew the law, but he wasn’t listening to God. I firmly believe that God chose Paul because Paul was so passionate, he wanted to do God’s work. He persecuted Christians because he thought they were distorting the word. God had to stop him cold, meet him personally, and shine the light so brightly in front of him that he was temporarily blinded by it. When Paul stopped to listen to the words he had heard he did a 180 and took off in the opposite direction.
The teachers of the law, those that Jesus was always warning, with the “Woe to you", had the words. They knew the law, but they were in it for the power it brought to them, not the glory it would bring to the Father, or even for the health and welfare of the people. They gave their tithe every Sabbath and then practiced injustice, and merciless pride the other six days of the week.
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14:23
There are do’s and there are don’ts. There are Go’s and there are waits. If you do not know what God wants you to do then you are not listening. HE SPELLED IT OUT. Search the scripture for commands and practice them.
The teachers of the law, those that Jesus was always warning, with the “Woe to you", had the words. They knew the law, but they were in it for the power it brought to them, not the glory it would bring to the Father, or even for the health and welfare of the people. They gave their tithe every Sabbath and then practiced injustice, and merciless pride the other six days of the week.
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14:23
There are do’s and there are don’ts. There are Go’s and there are waits. If you do not know what God wants you to do then you are not listening. HE SPELLED IT OUT. Search the scripture for commands and practice them.
Get a notebook and keep a record of the teachings of Jesus. Keep a record of the commands that God has given you. Hear the words. Then LISTEN to them. Practice the commands of God. Work on obedience.
Here’s a list to get you started
Repent – Matthew 4:10
Come follow me – Matthew 4:17
Do not be angry with your brother – Matthew 5:22
Go and be reconciled to your brother – Matthew 5:24
Do not break your oath – Matthew 5:33
Do not swear at all – Matthew 5:34
Love your enemies – Matthew 5:44
Pray for those who persecute you – Matthew 5:44
This is not the full list in chapter 5 and chapter 6 is just as full. Want to know the will of God for your life? It is right here in black and white or red if you have a red letter Bible. Read it. Find them and do them.
We must search the word for what the Boss of us wants us to do and not do. And as long as God is the Boss of us then these are the duties in our job description. We must don the armor, fight the good fight, run the race to the end and fulfill our obligations as children of the King.
Here’s a list to get you started
Repent – Matthew 4:10
Come follow me – Matthew 4:17
Do not be angry with your brother – Matthew 5:22
Go and be reconciled to your brother – Matthew 5:24
Do not break your oath – Matthew 5:33
Do not swear at all – Matthew 5:34
Love your enemies – Matthew 5:44
Pray for those who persecute you – Matthew 5:44
This is not the full list in chapter 5 and chapter 6 is just as full. Want to know the will of God for your life? It is right here in black and white or red if you have a red letter Bible. Read it. Find them and do them.
We must search the word for what the Boss of us wants us to do and not do. And as long as God is the Boss of us then these are the duties in our job description. We must don the armor, fight the good fight, run the race to the end and fulfill our obligations as children of the King.
It is our privilege to serve.
Simple – Ain’t – Easy
But it is worth it
Wendy
Simple – Ain’t – Easy
But it is worth it
Wendy
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