I think about the title I just wrote for my study this morning and it is the “earnest prayer” that stands out to me. In May 2018 I was led to the below passage as I studied the word “seek” and in that study I was reminded of these points.

God has things for us to do, and they are all action items:

1. Humble yourself – have a change of heart
2. Pray – speak with God
3. Seek the Face of God – earnestly look for Him
4. Turn from sin – consciously avoid sin

Now I as I read and study the word “hear” I see a deeper look into how I defined points 2 and 3 as “speak with God” and “earnestly look for Him”.

“¹⁴if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

God says here to pray and seek His face and He will hear and forgive and heal.

How can I not want that for myself, and the actions are so simple, earnestly look for and speak with Him. I only have to genuinely want to engage with God and when I do He will hear me and come to me.

I have to be careful with my expectations though. God will come when my requests are earnest and genuine. I can simply go through the motions and expect God to be there but in reality, He will come when I lean on Him with earnest. I have to fully submit and seek Him. I cannot be the one that shows at church on Sunday morning so others can see me. I have to be there when no one but He is watching. Whether anyone but God sees or hears us is inconsequential. God will hear our earnest prayer and will come.

What is it that you will do to have God come to you? Are your prayers genuine? Will you earnestly seek God so that He will hear and come?

“³Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁴Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” – Deuteronomy 6:3-4 (ESV)

I have to think about all of the times that I have simply heard the noise coming from someone and not really paid attention to do that which they were asking or indicating. I specifically think back to my childhood and all of the disobedience that came as a result of my ignoring the wisdom of my parents. They would say not to do something and I would do it anyway which led to, at minimum, punishment for disobedience.

I read and study the words of Moses here and realize that obedience is not just hearing the noise, but listening to the wisdom of those with experience. They have been through it before and they speak with understanding. Not just of the event, but of the consequences that come with doing.

There are things that are good to learn on our own, and frankly, it is good to experience adversity and difficulty. But why set ourselves up to fail and experience heavy difficulty, when following those that have already experienced and learning from their mistakes.

In the passage where these verses are found, Moses is reviewing again the greatest commandment:

“⁵You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all you might.” – Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV)

This commandment is not just about loving the Lord, but as noted in verses 4 and 5, it is about hearing and obeying. And the only way to truly hear and obey is to deeply listen, understand and act on what is being said.

I have heard the Word of the Lord for almost 50 years and when I take a look, I ask myself, have I been listening? Have I been understanding? Have I been acting?

The reality is that only in some areas and at some times have I been, and others I have not. And when being honest with myself, this is why I continue having those times of deep struggle. When I avoid listening, understanding, and acting, I am subject to the consequences that God was directing me away from.

When you really take stock in your life, have you heard those around you that were speaking from experience? Have you been listening, understanding, and acting on the commandments of God? Are you in a place to hear and do as God commands to avoid the consequences He already knows are there?

“⁵Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?¹Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. ²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. ⁴For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” – 1 John 5:5 & 1-4 (ESV)

I know, I quoted the above out of order from what John wrote. Forgive me. I am in need of understanding. As I read the passage, and studied, to me the question helped me to gain the understanding of the passage.

I am one “who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” and “who believe that Jesus is the Christ”. Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ. I have that part licked and therefore am well on my way to overcoming the world. But there is more to it than that.

As I do believe, I must act on that belief and that is where the obedience comes. Obedience begins with loving of God and that extends to those that are also believers that Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ. And when I have acted on that love, I will obey the commandments of God and as such will also love everyone. And that is the example of Christ in the world.

By obeying the commandments of God, loving everyone, and loving God, I am fully vesting in the family of God and by extension have been born of God. Now that I have found myself to be born of God, I have and will overcome the world.

I am not a theologian, and certainly not someone who knows everything. But, as noted in my NIV bible commentary for verse 4: “Genuine Christians are not defeated by the world’s hostility or compelled by it to turn from Christ.” I believe I am a “Genuine Christian” and as such my obedience to God’s Commandments allows me to overcome this world.

What is your picture of overcoming the world? Are you living the life of someone in the family of God? What if you were to put all of your obedience in God, how would it feel knowing that you would be able to overcome the world?

“¹⁷Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for ath would be of no advantage to you.” – Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

Once again I am amazed by the power of God. I have studied this verse at least 2 other times over the past few years. Each time, God reveals to me another bit or more insight into what it means to be His.

I have had some leaders in my christian life who exemplified that discussed in this verse. Two men I specifically think of were deacons in the church, taught me in Sunday school, and were there when needed for my family.

The interesting thing about them was that by the world standard, they were not great men. They were not captains of industry or tech moguls. They did not live in expensive gated communities. They weren’t in or on the news. They were a school teacher and a construction worker. They were fathers and husbands. They were modest and caring for those around them. They knew the example they were responsible for with boys and men just like me.

As I grew in the church, I, sometimes without even knowing, lived the example they gave and followed in that example. I taught Sunday school, sang in the praise team, coached my kids sports, became a deacon of the church and sat next to them as a leader myself.

I can say that without their Christ-like example, I am not sure that is where I would have made it to. I am not saying that I was headed down a wrong path in life, but I am saying that I may not have made it to the leadership role they gave the example.

These men did all of this with only one thing in mind and that was to be the example of Christ each day in all they did. I have no doubt that had they wanted to be the elite of the elite they would have had no trouble reaching that goal, but their task here in this world was focused on Christ and that is what they did. Without complaining, without regret, these men followed Christ for me to see and follow myself.

Do you have someone in your life that is the example of Christ? What is it about them that influenced you? Are you seeking the example of the leaders in your life with Christ?

I am suffering in this world. I get along and feel the persecution that comes my way. How can I continue to suffer when there are those that are getting so much in this world and it seems as though they have it so easy?

“⁹And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” – Hebrews 5:9 (ESV)

And there you have it. Jesus is my example of how I should continue in this world. He is my savior through His actions of death on a cross. He suffered immensely before His death, both immediately and throughout His life. He was tested, ridiculed, beaten, and eventually crucified for living life in obedience to God the Father. What did He do wrong, nothing. He was a non-sinner among sinners and yet He still held to the role he was given as “priest forever” (Hebrews 5:6 (ESV)).

I am no priest, but I am an inherited child of God and that is what I have to hold on to. Priests of biblical times were just men and were priest of men. They were really no different than I am today in that as men, they still suffered and sacrificed.

“¹For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ²He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. ³Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.” – Hebrews 5:1-3 (ESV)

Jesus suffered and sacrificed for me just as the priests did for the people. The difference is that He did not have to suffer and sacrifice for Himself as He was/is already perfect and never did/will sin. I have an obligation to continue my suffering for God and in obedience to Him. I have to also remember that like the priest of biblical times, I will be sacrificing for others so that they can grow closer to God, but I am also sacrificing and suffering for myself. I must be the vessel through which God works here in this world, and therefore I am obligated to to His will regardless of the consequences that this world brings upon me.

When you find yourself suffering, where does your heart and mind turn? Are you aware that you just may be the one designed to suffer and sacrifice for those around you? When you suffer, are you still willing to obey God for the good of others and yourself?

“⁶since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,…⁸in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,” – 2 Thessalonians 1:6, 8-9 (ESV)

Wow, now that is a significant punishment for disobedience. I know that for me, when I weigh the consequences of my actions I am more likely to avoid those negative consequences in favor of those that are less destructive.

What I see here is that the way to avoid the destruction that comes from the wrath of God is to avoid that wrath by obeying Him and following the commands He has for me. There are The Ten Commandments and especially the greatest of those as identified by Jesus Himself:

“³⁶Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?, ³⁷And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:36-39 (ESV)

It is hard to obey at all times and that is why I am thankful to have the ability to repent and continuously beg for forgiveness. I do not know all of the sins that I commit each day, but I do know that I am a sinner and for that I need forgiveness. I will strive to obey and avoid destruction as identified in 2 Thessalonians, but the truth is I will continue to fail and NEED the salvation provided to me through Jesus Christ.

Where are you as pertains to your obedience to Christ? Are you aware of your failures and are you consciously disobeying Him? What if you were to avoid the active disobedience and followed the commandments of Christ, would you like to avoid destruction?

Over the past couple of years I have found it hard to understand where I stand in this world. Even just this weekend I was feeling a complete lack of acknowledgment and under appreciation. I bust my tail every day doing that which I am instructed to do and when the day ends, I have accomplished the work, only to be handed more with feels like I am simply a tool that does a job.

Being treated as a tool or machine that is there to complete a task is very discouraging and even a bit demoralizing. I do work that gets results feeling a lack of acceptance or even being acknowledged does nothing for my mental or emotional state each day.

“⁵Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,…⁸knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.” – Ephesians 6:5 & 8 (ESV)

Paul explains to the Church at Ephesus that it is their duty to do the work for Christ and not man. Yes, as “slaves” or employees we do have work to do for our employers, but that work is not what give us our rewards in heaven. That work is simply the place where we display the work we do for Christ. We are chosen to complete work for Christ that only we are chosen to do. Where we accomplish that work is already known and where we are is the place to complete that work.

It is right for us to do the work of the Lord everywhere were go and are. I have to remember that the work given me by God is for His glory and not mine. Christ has me in a place to impact that place the way He has for me to impact it. I am to continue carrying out His work regardless of the reward or acknowledgment I do or do not receive.

What is right is right and where I accomplish that is where I am. God’s commands are more important than the commands of those of this world. I have a duty as Paul notes to obey my worldly masters, but that is only in so much as that is where I have been tasked with doing the work of God.

“⁶not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,” – Ephesians 6:6-7 (ESV)

I am of God, and that is where my ultimate allegiance lies. I will please Him in His eyes. I have a duty to obey those in this world, only as that does not conflict with what is right in the eyes of God. I obey the Lord first and do His work as it is right and good.

When you are in the world, where are your allegiances? Who is it that you are in obedience to? Will you obey the Lord, wherever you are because it is right?

As a father/parent, I have a duty to upbringing of my boys. God entrusted me to raise them in His likeness and to lead them to Him.

“⁴Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)

Paul writes to the parents at Ephesus to remind them of the duty of raising their children. I points out that as fathers, they are to make sure that the children are instructed to follow the discipline of Christ as they progress through this world.

I know that as that father/parent, I struggle with the proper approach to raising my boys and I can only have faith that they will demonstrate the love of God as they grow into adulthood and strike out on their own. I have done my level best to get them to this point and have to believe that what they took away will continue to lead them in the path that God has in store for them.

Paul did not just write to the parents of Ephesus, or rather to me, he also directed words and instruction to the children.

“¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” – Ephesians 6:1 (ESV)

I think that a good number of us have heard and/or used the first 4 words in verse 1 above, I know that I have. And Paul is correct in that children are to obey their parents as the immediate authority in their lives when they are growing up. But, the next 3 words are where the real work is done and I suspect that they are overlooked a good percentage of the time.

In verse 4 of the same passage, Paul writes as to the “instruction of the Lord”. And here in verse 1 he writes “in the Lord”. I am sure that those 3 words from verse 1 are not at the top of mind when children are hearing from their parents at the point of learning and growing. I know that even I as a child and parent have not always been looking for God at every turn of the parental/child life cycle. I should be/have been.

I know now and knew then that my mother is a God fearing woman and I believe that my boys know that of me as well. I have to admit that I was and still am a man and am blinded by the idea that I am the one in charge in my home and that everyone should be listening to me. What I have to go back to is that I am not in charge and that everything I have or am has been provided by God, and for that He deserves my obedience.

With my obedience to the Lord and when I am instructing my boys in the discipline of the Lord, I have satisfied my duty here in this world. I can now leave the learning and growing to my boys and I must have faith that when they need something, they will come to me and I will be able to lead them to Christ where they will be able to find all of the answers.

When you were a child or even as a parent, where did you lean for instruction and discipline? Where you able to look at situations in the interest of finding the answers in and of the Lord? Are you looking to be obedient to the Lord and live with the instructions He provides?

“¹⁶Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” – Romans 6:16 (ESV)

I am a slave or in the context of these verses, a bondservant. I obey the one I serve, and in return I receive what is due. I may not “deserve” what I receive, but I will receive regardless. I have the chance to serve either sin or I can serve God, and what I receive is in line with where my service is directed.

“¹⁹I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slave to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” – Romans 6:19 (ESV)

Paul points out here that I was a slave to sin at one time and that through the gift of salvation I have moved my servant-hood from sin to God and that leads to my rewards in heaven. As a sinner, I deserve death, but the gift of salvation from God is way more than I deserve and for that, I owe my obedience to God who gave to me.

“²³For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23 (ESV)

Where are you finding your obedience? Are you being led to the path of death by being a slave to sin? What if you were to accept the free gift of salvation and instead be a slave to God?

It is easy for me to sit here in all of my Christianity, covered in the blood of Christ, to condemn others for the actions they take in this world. I am better than you because of where I am. But, am I?

“¹Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” – Romans 2:1 (ESV)

I am really no different than everyone else in this world. I am a sinner just the same, and as such, I have no claim to being “better” than anyone.

“³Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?…⁵But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s judgment will be revealed.” – Romans 2:3 & 5 (ESV)

As I read this morning, when judging others, I am simply preparing myself for the full wrath of God. I am not demonstrating any better character, I am just the same.

But, I have an out and escape. I can avoid the judging of other, repent for my transgressions, and focus my attention on obedience to God’s commands for my life. When I do, I store up rewards in heaven as opposed to additional wrath of God.

“⁶He will render to each one according to his works: ⁷to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; ⁸but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” – Romans 2:6-8 (ESV)

God only wants me to follow Him and do the works He has in store for me. When I am concerning myself with the actions of others, I cannot be focused on the work God has in store for me. I am simply to obey God’s commands for me in my life and leave it to Him to judge and deal with those that are outside of His will. God is the judge for me and all others in this world. For me I should simply work to please Him through obedience to His will.

What are you concerned with? Are you looking at others and passing judgment on them for the very actions that you may be doing only behind closed doors? What would it be like for you to simply obey God and allow Him to be the judge of others?