Jan 19 — Reverence of Obeying God's Commands

Isaiah 58:2c (NKJV) — … As a nation that did righteousness,

And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. …

Isaiah 58:2c (NLT) — They act like a righteous nation

that would never abandon the laws of its God.

I’m fasting but is this simply my journey?  I’m seeking God but am I alone?  I need breakthrough but is this about me only?  It’s time to remember that this is not a personal fast … Freedom Centre is fasting.  God has called us to fast and pray.  I can become so focussed on what God is doing in me that I forget that He is doing this in us.  The sins I repent of is not just my own but ours.  The sins others repent of are not just their own but ours.  The declarations I make are our declarations.  The verse says “as a nation” but it could also be translated as “people.”  We are a body — connected to one another in ways not seen by the natural eye.  We live in a culture that likes to offload blame.  No one likes to take responsibility for others.  Jesus said our greatest witness of being His is that we love one another.  Love one another with the unconditional love of God — a love that lays down its life for another.

Jesus also said that if I love Him I will do what He commands/asks of me.  I can try my best to look like an acceptable Christian according to the standard of those around me, but how am I doing standing face-to-face with Jesus?  I can “act like a righteous” person and compare myself with others to impress myself, but is God impressed?  We can “act like a righteous” church/people and compare ourselves with other churches, but is God impressed?  God is not impressed by our “act” but is seeking hearts that are fully committed to Him.  Acting compensates for the part of my/our life that isn’t fully committed to Him.  Acting gives the appearance of godliness but denies the very power of God to transform lives.  He has given us everything we need for life and godliness, so we my persevere to enter into everything He has for us and no longer make excuses for them.

Lord, may we firstly repent of repenting too much.  Too often have we simply come before You to seek forgiveness and say we repent but it was an act.  We have not changed, so we have not repented.  We cannot change ourselves but You have given us everything we need.  I can choose to partake of Your nature, to walk in Your Spirit, to have an eternal existence; or I can choose to partake of a nature that is dead, to walk in the fallenness of the flesh, to have an earthly existence.  Lord, today I choose You.  Lord, as I make choices, remind me of the connection I have to Your body.  I am also we.  May You get all of the glory You deserve from The Freedom Centre as we truly experience and live out of Your power and nature today.

[Also meditate on: Mk. 8:34-38; Jn. 13:34-35; Gal. 6:1-10; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 2 Pe. 1:2-15; 1 Jn. 5:1-5]