Obedience and Consequences - Day 35 Through the Bible

Fly-fishing is one of the most popular sports near Mt. Celo Church.   

In conjunction with this, "Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings."  

Our Part:  Obedience;  God's Part:  The Consequences.  In today's readings we receive both the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20 that God gave to Moses and then The Greatest Commandment that Jesus gave to the Pharisee in Matthew 22:37-40.  Blessings or curses are named as the consequences of obedience or disobedience.  These are our life principles, the framework, the cornerstone to fellowship with God, the hedge of protection around us according to Charles Stanley's Life Principle #2:  Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.  We know that the first four commandments are about our vertical relationship with God; the last 6 are about our horizontal relationship with man.  Jesus has the same order in summarizing this:  Love God with your whole being (first), and then the second - love your neighbor as yourself.  The Proverbs 6: 20-25 reading emphasizes the importance of these laws and commands:  keep, do not forsake, continually bind them upon your heart, tie them around your neck...they will lead you, keep you, speak with you, keep you from (evil). "We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him…Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience to Him." Oswald Chambers - My Utmost for His Highest

My Lesson and Application:  In order to know God more fully and draw nearer to Him in fellowship,  it is essential that I spend time alone with Him daily in His Word.  Prayer time with Him and the following of His Spirit within me are not relegated to "a time" but are as constant with me as is breath - in every thought, word and action.

A Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation.  God tells Moses in Exodus 19:5-6 that IF Israel "will obey His voice and keep His covenant, THEN they will be a special treasure to Him above all people and will be to Him a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."  They did not fulfill the covenant through obedience.  In 1 Peter 2:9 now we - the church (believers) "are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."  For more on this doctrine of election from Christian theologian, Jonathan Edwards
My Lesson and Application:  We have been called - not just for a privilege but for a purpose - to praise, honor and glorify God.  Does my life praise God?

How to Obey God with Confidence and Joy (Charles Stanley 30 Life Principles) "1) Trust God with your life and all that concerns you.  2) Wait on the Lord for an answer to your problem or situation. 3) Meditate on God's Word. 4) Listen to the Holy Spirit. 5) Be willing to wait or walk away when the way before you is unclear. 6) Be willing to endure conflict. 7) Leave the consequences to God."