Devotion
Obedience is Part of Love
Chipo Biti
Obedience is a key part of our relationship with God. We cannot say we love God if we disobey His instructions and go against His guidance on a daily basis. That isn't love. That is rebellion. When we obey God, we are showing Him that we have submitted to His will and we have put our total trust in Him. Try and imagine if you were in a relationship with someone who was always doing the opposite of whatever you would ask them to do. You'd start to doubt them whenever they express their love for you, right? Fortunately for us, God doesn't think the way we do. He loves us when we are faithful. He loves us when we are not.
This, however, should not serve as a reason to continue being disobedient. If you truly love someone then you will want to show them that you value their guidance - not just with your words but with your actions as well. Love is expressed in words and actions. They should be expressed equally. If you say that you love God, you have to express it in everything you do.
There are blessings that come with being obedient. It's just a natural way of things rolling out. When you are obedient to the will of God, you prevent yourself from encountering potentially dangerous situations, and you find yourself walking on favorable paths. Blessings are inevitable when you remain on the favorable paths that God guides you on.
Prayer
When you are obedient to the will of God for your life, it speaks volumes to the people around you. Younger Christians will be encouraged by the example that you choose to set for them. Remember that everything you say and do will serve as a testimony to the people who get to witness your life on a regular basis.
Devotion
True Prophecy
Frances Taylor
Peter is warning the people against false teachers and false prophets. There were false prophets among the Israelites and there would be again. Men, then, and men and women today who would lead people away from the will of God in order that they might exert influence over the leaders of the times to achieve their own ends. In ancient times, the prophets worked to bring the people back to living as God wanted them to live. The false prophets wanted to keep their jobs as the favorites of the kings and kept telling them not to listen.
Today we have many false teachers as Peter predicted who try to turn the words of Scripture to their own agendas. These people have often called for hate instead of the love which Jesus asked for. They have called for vengeance instead of forgiveness or mercy. They bring about division instead of unity. The true teacher will be attentive to the word of God and do his or her best to make Jesus law of love more visible in ...
Morning Prayer
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Inspiration
I constantly compare myself to Jesus Christ. Although I think that it is a good thing to contemplate how you live and compare it to Christ, it can also be very difficult. Jesus is the Son of God. It would be impossible for us to ever be as good as him because he was created without flaws. God sent him to earth as a mortal man, as a sinner, so that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5: 21) It is an impossible standard to reach, but is there any other person that you would rather be more similar to?
Prayer
Divine God, powerful creator of both Heaven and earth, I pray that these words convey my sincere gratitude to you for sending Jesus to us. Forgive me, Father, for I am selfish and weak, acting directly against your heavenly mandate. I know that Jesus Christ has shown light on a darkened ...
