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Category Archives: Obeying God

Famous Last Words – Jesus on the Cross

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Famous Last WordsDarkness shrouded the city at noon. Even the sun mourned the imminent death of the Son. Although physically crucified by the hands of Roman soldiers, Jesus went to the cross willingly, in obedience to the Father. The Jewish leaders, their mock trial, and Governor Pilate were all just tools in God’s hands.

No one could take Jesus’ life without God’s approval. Jesus had the authority to not only lay down His life, but to take it up again (John 10:18). No one took Jesus’ life. He gave His life as act of obedience to His Father. Jesus’ last words on the cross accentuate this truth.

Jesus death, Jesus dying on Cross, Jesus' crucifixion

Jesus on the cross

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46, NIV

Submitting to God

Jesus completely submitted His life and death into the Father’s hands. Jesus’ obedience provided the way of salvation for you and me. Jesus’ death provided forgiveness for our sins and opened a way for us to enter into God’s presence. Jesus’ last words on the cross have significance for every person who has ever lived. Because He was “obedient to death” (Philippians 2:8) we can have life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16, NIV

Trusting God in every situation

Jesus fully trusted the Father. He walked in complete obedience – all the way to the cross. He trusted God with the process and the pain. He trusted God with the reason and the result. He committed Himself to the One worthy of trust.

Is there a situation in your life right now you need to commit to God?

What is it hardest to trust God with?

God has a perfect plan for you that fits just right

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There’s no better way to start the week than by filling up with God’s Word. So each Monday morning join me here to take a brief, but reflective look into a passage of Scripture. 

Do you have trouble finding jeans that fit just right? I sure do! Of course most of them are way too long. Some gap in the waist. When I do find a pair that fits the waist they are usually  too tight across the behind. Hmmm?

I have to look long and hard for a pair that really fits, the pair that seems to have been made with me in mind. And when I find I want to wear it every day. It doesn’t bind, pinch, or gap. I can sit, bend, and walk without having to tug or pull. It’s perfect!

God has a perfect plan for your life that fits way better than even that perfect pair of jeans. It fits perfectly because He designed you to fit the plan. He has equipped you with everything you need to carry out His will for your life. Let’s take a look:

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.  Romans 12:1-8, NLT

In his letter to the Christians in Rome, the Apostle Paul beautifully elaborates on the great salvation God offers. After presenting our need for Christ and what He has accomplished on our behalf, Paul now turns to our proper response in chapter 12: “And so…”

According to verse 1, what is our proper response to our great salvation?

How does Paul describe God’s will for us in verse 2?

In verses 3-8, Paul reminds us that God has gifted and equipped us with exactly what we need to follow His perfect will for our lives. God intends for us to use our gifts to serve Him and our fellow Christians.

Have you found God’s perfect will for your life? Are you using God’s gifts to serve Him and others? How does it feel to be right in the center of His perfect will?

Saran Wrap for the Soul

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Public toilets are a necessary evil. “Evil,” because many are less than clean. “Necessary,” because I need them frequently.

Thankfully, my mother taught me the fine art of hovering when I was still a young girl. This skill has served me well and I have perfected it. I can get close enough to prevent splashing and still avoid actually touching the toilet seat.

Recently I saw an amazing new feature on a public toilet. If it catches on, my “hovering” muscles may atrophy. I had just gotten off a plane in New Orleans, hustled to the ladies room, and hurried into the stall. Prepared to “take the stance,” something unusual caught my eye.

Clean, clear plastic covered the toilet seat. The writing on the back of the toilet read: “Before use, wave hand in front of green wall mounted sensor or press green button for fresh sanitary seat cover. Stops automatically.”

So, I waved my hand and like magic the plastic scooted away and fresh plastic took its place over the seat. Then I confidently took care of business. No hovering muscles required.

That toilet seat was truly protected. The plastic covering guarded it from all kinds of outside evil. Constant protection produces constant clean. The person who thought this up is a genius.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could cover our souls with plastic wrap? It’s a big, bad world out there. Temptation constantly bombards us. Sometimes we turn away and stand firm in obedience to God. Other times, we hover too close. Instead of running we allow ourselves to be “dragged away and enticed” (James 1:14), yielding to temptation and falling headlong into sin.

In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.

Proverbs 22:5, NIV

Unprotected souls are easy prey for Satan’s schemes and our own sinful desires. But when we keep constant guard over our hearts and minds we protect ourselves from many pitfalls. Know your weaknesses and take measures to guard against them. Be aware of the areas where you are apt to fall and avoid those things. Cover your soul with Saran Wrap.

What are some areas of weakness for you? What measures can you take to protect yourself from temptation?

Monday Minute in the Word – “Sometimes, but not always”

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Note: Join me every Monday morning for a brief, but reflective look into God’s Word. There’s no better way to start your week.

Do you fully trust God – all the time, in every situation? Or do you do pretty good some days and not so good others? Often I trust God’s direction and provision and step out in obedience. But I admit that there are times that I hold back. I take matters into my own hand and do things in a way I think is best.

Life – and Scripture – shows me that I am not alone. Today, we’ll see that even Abraham had those moments when he had trouble fully trusting God.

 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

Genesis 12:1-5, NIV

What did God ask Abram to do? How did Abram respond?

Abram took a huge step of obedience. He left everything familiar behind and dragged his entire household and all his belongings into the unknown. Not sure I would do that. Abram exhibit great faith. That day.

Let’s see what happens on a day not too far past the great day of faith.

10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

Genesis 12:10-13, NIV

Soon, Abram faced a different trial. This time, he decided to handle it on his own. (If you’d like to see how it turned out, read Genesis 12:14-20.) One day Abram exhibited great faith. On another, his actions reveal he was still growing and learning to trust God. Can you relate?

In an odd way, it’s encouraging for me to know that Abram had bad faith days. It proves I don’t have to be hopelessly faith-challenged. That I can continue to grow and deepen my trust in God.

What about you? Can you relate to Abram? In what ways does his story encourage you?

Real submission – Monday Minute in the Word

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I’ve heard Henry Blackaby say many times that real obedience to God means saying “yes” before we’ve even heard the assignment. That kind of obedience requires complete submission to the authority of God. When the prophet Isaiah had that famous vision of our holy God seated on the throne, he displayed real, complete submission.

Read the passage from Isaiah and then watch the one-minute video below.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they were calling to one another:

   “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

   And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Isaiah 6:1-8, NIV

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I admit that my submission to God does not always look like Isaiah’s. Often it is more like my children’s as I described in the video. My biggest trouble is probably fear. Fear over what God may ask me to give up. Fear over how hard the assignment might be. I pray God will continue to teach me that He deserves my complete, unconditional obedience.

What about you? What holds you back from real, complete submission to God?