DCLM Higher Everyday 22 December 2022 — Obedient Children
DCLM Higher Everyday 22 December 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Obedient Children
TOPIC: OBEDIENT CHILDREN
TEXT: 1 PETER 1:13-19
14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
MEMORY VERSE: “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance” (1 PETER 1:14).
MESSAGE:
Hear what S. D. Gordon said, “Obey! Obey!! Obey!!! Simply, intelligently, the will of the Father because it is the Father’s will, whether you see your way out or not. That is the very underground work of our Master’s victory in the wilderness.”
It was an epic clash of wills as a rebellious youngster tried to resist a strong father who insisted on obedience as captured in this conversation: “I said, sit down,” said the frustrated father with a firm pressure on the child’s shoulders. The boy’s legs buckled under as he lowered his little frame onto the sofa. “Alright,” he said rudely, “but I am standing up in my mind.”
Do you sometimes act like that towards God? Do you give grudging obedience to your parents, teachers or even your spiritual leaders? Outward compliance, but inward rebellion amounts to hypocrisy. Forced obedience is disobedience in essence.
Rebellion is native to the human heart. Joyful obedience proceeds only from a heart washed from sin and sanctified by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ. If you are not yet washed, repent now and you shall be delivered today.
QUOTE: Forced obedience is disobedience.
CHALLENGE: Does your obedience match God’s demand?
PRAYER: Rid me of every form of disobedience, O Lord.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
