Can You Follow Instructions?

Prayer – Lord, following instructions is associated so much with attitude. When I have a good attitude, I am more willing to accept and follow instructions from others. Do You see that in me—in following Your instructions? I certainly want to please You in all that I think, say and do. I want to obey You for You have given me a precious salvation from my sin and innate sinful nature. Work in and through me. 

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I (Paul) was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:12-13

 

Meditate. Can you follow instructions?

 

The Torah in a Synagogue in Israel.
Reverently study God's word...
His instructions.
Build your relationship with God...
based on His Holy Word.

Where do you find the instructions to follow? In the greatest instruction manual of all times: the Holy Bible. Jesus taught His followers to apply some of the Old Testament traditions with His wisdom in His Sermon on the Mount—which contains the Beatitudes. Following the Ten Commandments and all of Jesus instructions throughout the New Testament is the best thing we can do. But beware of becoming legalistic. That was the problem that the Jews ran into. Following the commandments to the letter of the law…and making those interpretations into their own 613 laws. Nit picky. They were being the hypocrites that Jesus accused them of being because they were taking pride in keeping their laws rather than in obeying God, in living a loving and compassionate life.

 

Where do you stand today? Are you living by Christian ethics just so that you can feel good about what you do…or are you truly living to serve the Lord by serving others? As always, the choice is yours. God doesn’t force you to do anything. He gives you the option to listen and obey. Can you follow instructions?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:12-13

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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