"Obedience: The Key to Unlocking God's Blessings"

 

"Obedience: The Key to Unlocking God's Blessings"

As Christians, we often talk about the importance of faith, love, and forgiveness. But another crucial aspect of our walk with God is obedience. In this post, we'll explore what the Bible says about obedience and how it can transform our lives.

Trusting in the Lord

In Proverbs 3:5-6, we read, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." These verses remind us that obedience starts with trusting in the Lord. When we trust Him, we can submit to His will and plans, even when we don't understand them.

Obedience as a Demonstration of Love

In John 14:23, Jesus says, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." Here, Jesus emphasizes that obedience is a demonstration of our love for Him. When we obey His teachings, we show that we value our relationship with Him and are committed to following His ways.

Guidance and Instruction

In Psalm 32:8, we read, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." This verse reminds us that God is always guiding and instructing us. When we obey Him, we can trust that He will lead us in the right direction and provide us with the wisdom we need.

Peace and Provision

Finally, in Philippians 4:6-7, we read, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." When we obey God and trust in His provision, we can experience peace and freedom from anxiety.

Conclusion

Obedience is not always easy, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and development. As we seek to obey God's Word and follow His teachings, we can trust that He will guide us, provide for us, and bless us abundantly.

Credits

This blog post was inspired by Keith M. Craddock's leadership in family Bible study. Special thanks to Keith for his guidance and insight.

Assistance provided by Meta AI.

May God bless you as you seek to obey His Word.

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#Obedience #Trust #Love #Guidance #Peace #Provision #BibleStudy #Faith

Lord, Help Me Do Better

 

A family bible study by Keith M. Craddock

"Lord, Help Me Do Better"

Have you ever felt like you're not living up to your full potential? Like you're stuck and can't seem to make progress? The truth is, we all struggle with feelings of inadequacy and frustration at times. But the good news is that God is always willing to help us do better.

Following Jesus Requires Sacrifice

In Luke 9:57-58, we read:

"As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' Jesus replied, 'Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'"

This passage reminds us that following Jesus requires sacrifice. We can't just follow Him when it's convenient or easy; we have to be willing to give up our own desires and plans in order to follow Him.

Serving Two Masters

In Matthew 6:24, we read:

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

This verse reminds us that we can't serve two masters. We have to choose between serving God and serving our own desires and interests.

The World is Passing Away

In 1 John 2:17, we read:

"The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."

This passage reminds us that the world and its desires are temporary, but doing the will of God is eternal. We should focus on living for God, rather than trying to fit in with the world.

Living as Foreigners

In 1 Peter 2:15-17, we read:

"For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."

This passage reminds us that as Christians, we are living as foreigners in a world that is not our home. We should live in such a way that we honor God and show respect to everyone around us.

Taking Up Our Cross

In Matthew 16:24-25, we read:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.'"

This passage reminds us that following Jesus requires us to take up our cross and deny ourselves. We have to be willing to give up our own desires and plans in order to follow Him.

Spiritual Warfare

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, we read:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

This passage reminds us that as Christians, we are in a spiritual battle. We need to use the weapons of spiritual warfare, such as prayer and Scripture, to demolish strongholds and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Conclusion

Living for God is not always easy, but it's worth it. When we surrender our lives to Him and ask for His help, He will give us the strength and wisdom we need to do better. Let us pray, "Lord, help me do better."

Reflection Questions

What areas of your life do you feel like you're not doing well in?
How can you surrender those areas to God and ask for His help?
What does it mean to you to take up your cross and follow Jesus?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to do better. Give us the strength and wisdom we need to live for You. Help us to surrender our lives to You and to follow You, no matter what the cost. In Jesus' name, Amen

Bless Family and Home

 "Bless Family and Home"

A family bible study by Keith M. Craddock

As followers of Christ, we are called to be a blessing to our families and homes. But what does that look like in practical terms?

Choosing to Serve the Lord

In Joshua 24:15, we read:

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua is giving the Israelites a choice: they can serve the Lord, or they can serve other gods. But Joshua makes it clear that he and his household will serve the Lord, no matter what.

The Spiritual Battle for Our Homes

In Ephesians 6:12, we read:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

This verse reminds us that there is a spiritual battle going on for our homes and families. Satan wants to destroy our relationships and our faith, but God wants to bless and protect us.

Blessing Our Families and Homes

So how can we bless our families and homes? Here are a few ideas:

Pray for your family: Take time each day to pray for your family members and ask God to bless and protect them.
Serve your family: Look for ways to serve your family members, whether it's cooking a meal, helping with chores, or simply listening to them.
Create a peaceful home environment: Make your home a peaceful and welcoming place by playing uplifting music, displaying encouraging artwork, and keeping a tidy and organized space.

Conclusion

Blessing our families and homes is a choice we make every day. We can choose to serve the Lord and prioritize our relationships with our family members. We can pray for our families, serve them, and create a peaceful home environment. Let us commit to blessing our families and homes today.

Reflection Questions

What are some ways you can bless your family today?
How can you prioritize your relationships with your family members?
What does it mean to you to create a peaceful home environment?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to bless our families and homes. Give us wisdom and guidance as we navigate the challenges of family life. Protect us from the spiritual forces of evil and fill our homes with Your peace and love. In Jesus' name, Amen