A Walk of Obedience

Any loving parent has great joy in seeing his or her children listen to, obey, and emulate that which is good and builds strong character. How much more our heavenly Father who made us in His image and according to His likeness, desires that we hearken to, obey His voice, and walk in His ways. When we walk contrary to His will and purpose, we find ourselves entangled with the cares and deceptions of life, and no godly fruit is produced. Only in the LORD, are our souls satisfied; only in the LORD, can we experience true peace, joy and contentment, as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Him, who is gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.   

"For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.' Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward." (Jeremiah 7:22-24)

"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22)

"If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword." (Isaiah 1:19 & 20)

"Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea." (Isaiah 48:18)

"If you love Me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me, because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 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 14:15-21) 

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:7,8)  See entire chapter.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27) See entire chapter.

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions

Related Bible Readings: Genesis Chapters 2 and 3; Exodus Chapter 20; Hebrews Chapter 3; Ezekiel Chapter 33; Jeremiah 6:16-20; Jeremiah 16:10 & 11; Jeremiah Chapters 42, 43, 44; Psalm 19:7-14; The First Epistle of John Chapter 2; Romans Chapters 1 and 2; Romans 5:19-21; Romans Chapter 13; Acts Chapter 5; The Epistle of James Chapter 1; Philippians Chapter 2; Ephesians Chapter 2; Ephesians Chapter 5; The First & Second Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians; The First Epistle of Peter Chapter 1; Matthew 5:17; Matthew Chapter 15:8 & 9; Matthew 22:35-40 

Inspiration For Our Daily Christian Walk

1 Samuel 15:22

To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 

Numbers 9:18-23
At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. 

Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not journey. 

So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the Lord they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the Lord they would journey. 

So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. 

Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. 

At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 

Morning Devotion: Obedience is Pleasing to the Lord

Happy Friday... Keep the charge of the Commander of our lives. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22)

"At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not journey. So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the Lord they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the Lord they would journey. So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses." (Numbers 9:18-23)

Quickened With His Precepts

Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled heaven, thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances for all are thy servants. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts, for with them thou hast quickened me. I am thine, save me, for I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me: to destroy me but I will consider thy testimonies. I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. Psalm 119:89-96

Today, we're looking into the holy scriptures and discovering secrets in the secret place—nuggets of truth to set us free from the troops of darkness that would seek to destroy your faith, your life. 

The aforementioned scripture discloses, that in affliction, it wasn't the arm of flesh, neither was it chariots of iron, or the help of man that delivered from affliction, but hear it now: "I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickened me."

Precept is defined as  1. A commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct.  2. An injunction as to moral conduct.

God's precepts are His Word—His direction for us to conduct ourselves in ways that would be pleasing to Him and show forth His praise. To build character and give us strength. As we delight ourselves in His preceipts, we are quickened in the inner man. 

God's precepts are all encompassing of His love and power, and brings with them enormous joy to the one who seeks and obeys them.

Many a time on life's journey, we experience afflictions of various sorts. Some are of our own making due to poor choices, lack of wisdom, knowledge and understanding, or not having discretion and moderation. Others due to persecution for being a follower of Christ and an ambassador of His gospel.

Know that God is able to raise us up (revive), and make us stand firm. His Word will quicken and sustain us in our weakest, darkest moments. His Word is exceedingly powerful and quick, and accomplishes all that it is sent to do. 

Meditate on His Word; delight in it. Bare our hearts before God, and wait patiently on Him. He will see us through. Bless our faithful God! Amen.

A Walk In The Garden Devotions
Hope and Encouragement For Life's Journey