Obedience

  • Finding Loopholes

    Ephesians 5:3

    Because it is hard to find a detailed list of do’s and don’t’s regarding sexual behavior, it is easy for us to justify certain activities or thoughts that may in fact not be edifying. Even if something ...Read More

  • His Commandments

    1 John 2:3–6

    Some in church history have advocated perfectionism based partly on verse 5 of today’s passage. 1 John 1:8 makes it clear that this cannot be the case, thus, we must scrutinize our lives to see if we are ...Read More

  • His Commandments

    1 John 5:2–3

    Do you find the commandments of God burdensome? Or do you delight in keeping His law? Do you say you love God but then flee from obedience or commit the opposite error by trying to obey out of any other ...Read More

  • Imitate Good

    3 John 9–15

    Whether we are in a position of authority or not, we all must be careful lest we try to place ourselves first. All too often our criticism of other people, especially Christian leaders, arises not from legitimate concerns but instead ...Read More

  • In Deed and Truth

    1 John 3:16–18

    As our income increases it becomes easier to spend the extra money on things we really do not need instead of using it to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and extend the Gospel. While we cannot set some kind ...Read More

  • Just and Fair Masters

    Colossians 4:1

    By way of application, those who are managers or who otherwise supervise people should keep in mind the principle behind the proper treatment of slaves by masters. Employees are not to be regarded as mere cogs in a machine, and ...Read More

  • Love Earnestly

    1 Peter 1:22–25

    By what standard do you measure your obedience to the Lord’s command to be holy? Do you set up a checklist of those things that God forbids and then make sure to avoid them? While such an evaluation of ...Read More

  • Love for God and Neighbor

    Matthew 22:34–40

    Love of God and love of neighbor are connected. We cannot love God rightly if we do not love our neighbors, especially our fellow Christians, and we cannot love our neighbors rightly if we do not love God (1 John ...Read More

  • Mocked and Beaten

    Matthew 27:27–31

    The Christian faith is derided in many circles, and many professing believers throughout history have been tempted to play down the offense of the gospel or work hard to show the world that Christians are not as “uncool” as they ...Read More

  • No Favored Parties

    Colossians 3:25

    We can be tempted to make excuses for our behavior based on our backgrounds or conditions in which we find ourselves. But we must always remember that the Lord requires righteousness from us no matter our condition, and we must ...Read More

  • No New Commandment

    1 John 2:7–8

    The emphasis on love in 1 John is the love that we must have for other believers. However, while the needs of John’s audience required him to focus on love for other Christians, we would be mistaken if we ...Read More

  • Obedience and Delight

    Psalm 1:1-2

    True love for God’s law is not legalism (adding to God’s rules or demanding that we obey the civil and ceremonial laws fulfilled in Christ). Love for the law makes us try to follow it truly without imposing ...Read More

  • Obedience Not Sacrifice

    Psalm 40

    Read again the final two verses of Psalm 40. Do you seek the Lord with gladness? Are you compelled to declare before men “The Lord be glorified”? Whether poor or rich, remember today that He who thinks of you is ...Read More

  • Our New Lord and Master

    Romans 6:1–14

    Throughout the New Testament especially, we find that the evidence of true Christian faith is a life of gratitude in which our love for Jesus is proved by our willingness to obey Him (John 14:15). This does not mean ...Read More

  • Our True Master

    Colossians 3:22-24

    Although there are significant differences between first-century slave-master relationships and modern employer-employee relationships, it is certainly true that the principles Paul lays out in today’s passage are applicable to employees and the way they do their work. Christians should ...Read More