OBEDIENCE TO DIVINE DIRECTIVES

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS (Matt. 1:24-25)

Believers who walk in abundance and joy are those who properly act in obedience to divine directives. Those who do not, find life to be a hard struggle, even though they are children of the Most High. God has spoken clearly in His word that obedience is the key to abundance and prosperity. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19).

Why did God bless father Abraham so much, and has given him eternal honour? He was always prompt in doing whatever God told him to do. “So Abraham departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him” was a common feature of his life (Gen. 12:4a).

Why was Jesus so confident, so bold, so authoritative, so accurate and so effective in His ministry? He walked in complete obedience to His heavenly Father. This is what He said: “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (Jn. 5:30).

God lamented what became the fate of Israel due to their disobedience. In Psalm 81, this was God’s lamentation.

I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries… He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee (Ps. 81:10-16).

God wanted to satisfy all the needs of Israel. He gave them just one condition; “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you” (Jer. 7:23).

This is the simplest statement I know of what God requires. “Obey my voice, and I will be your God”.

You will not miss God’s best for you in life. God’s conditions have not changed. He wants His people to love Him with all of their hearts, and to obey His voice promptly. This will bring you prosperity, untold happiness and joy. Deuteronomy 28 lists all the blessings of obedience, and all the curses of disobedience. The blessings begin….. “If you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, all these blessing shall come upon you” (Deut. 28:1-2).

The curses begin… “If you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, all these curses shall come upon you” (Deut. 28:15).

I want to urge you: position yourself in such a state of worship that you will hear the voice of the Lord very clearly. And whatever He says to you, do it. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (Jn. 10:27).

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY
ISA 1:1-19
FOR FURTHER STUDIES
DEUT. 28.

PRAYER POINTS:

  1. Give thanks to God because He wants it to be well with you. ­
  2. Ask the Lord to help you in listening to His voice. ­
  3. Ask for a heart of obedience, to walk in obedience to the voice of the Lord. ­
  4. Rebuke every move of the enemy to push you contrary to the voice of the Lord.

Confession for Today:
I will walk in obedience to the voice of the Lord my God. It shall be well with me

Nations’ Watch
Pray for Kazakhstan