Obedience (2/4)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give… Romans 12:1

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. Romans 12:1	I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. mercy holiness
Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other. Romans 15:32	That I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. joy dependence

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Galatians 5:17	For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Spirit
And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:17	And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. eternal life desires world
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Galatians 1:10	For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. reward relationships
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart. Proverbs 4:20-21	My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. listening Word of God heart
I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. Psalm 119:60	I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments. law following
And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment. John 3:36	He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. eternal life faith salvation
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23	The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. serving trust following
‘I am the Lord your God,’ I told them. ‘Follow my decrees, pay attention to my regulations, and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the Lord your God.’ Ezekiel 20:19-20	I am the Lord your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God. law sabbath
You must faithfully keep all my commands by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord. Leviticus 22:31	Therefore you shall keep My commandments, and perform them: I am the Lord. law God
Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20	Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. food listening promises
But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1:25	But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. law blessing listening
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8	Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Savior Jesus crucifixion
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. Exodus 19:5	Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. covenant valuable world
Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Zechariah 1:3b	“Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. conversion repentance reliability
My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. Proverbs 4:10	Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. Word of God law life
So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. Deuteronomy 8:6	Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. law awe following
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.” Acts 10:34-35	Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” righteousness evangelism
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10-11	Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. calling kingdom reward
In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Hebrews 5:9	And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. salvation Savior eternal life
If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Leviticus 26:3-4	If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. law blessing harvest
You must diligently obey the commands of the Lord your God—all the laws and decrees he has given you. Deuteronomy 6:17	You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you. law
So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. Hebrews 4:11	Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. sabbath rest
Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Proverbs 4:5	Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. wisdom understanding Word of God

But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.