Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Tuesday February 16, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Numbers, chapters 8-9. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-16

Title: Bible Study: Following Commands
Today, we learn of the cleansing of the tribe of Levite's so they could come into the Tabernacle and do the service that God commanded them to do and God also reminds the Israelite's what they were to do during Passover. The word command is written in the Bible 839 times. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.” - Numbers 8:1-3. Some of these commands may seem insignificant, but there is a purpose and reason for every one of them. Commands are not given to control us, they are given to teach us and guide is to be the best that we can be for God.

So, exactly what is a command? A command is an instruction or a rule that we are encouraged to obey, made by someone in authority over us. Every one who is in authority over us gives us commands to instruct us and prepare us for the job we have chosen to do. A wife is under the authority of her husband, children are under the authority of their parents or guardians, people in the military are under the authority of a Sargent, an employer has authority over an employee. Likewise, all who accept Jesus into their lives and seek to follow God's will are subject to His authority. No matter what we do in life, with the exception of being born, we chose to do it of our own free will, but once we make that decision, there is no turning back, we become subject to the authority of whomever we are under. “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.........Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Hebrews 13:17,20,21. When we submit ourselves to authority we not only please God we find joy as we prove that we are trustworthy and honest to fulfill our positions. Now, we can chose to follow these commands or reject them, but if we want to keep our positions or the respect of those in authority over us then we are to obey their commands. This same reasoning should be applied to our relationship with God. If we want a peaceful and prosperous relationship with God we need to submit to His authority and commands. Just as the Israelite's were to follow God's command, all strangers among them were subject to His authority as well. “And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.” - Numbers 8:14.

All who make the choice to follow God are to follow His commands. “At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.” - Numbers 9:18-20. Commands are not given to hurt us, but to help us. If we all just went about things with no authority at all we would not get very far. Think about a traffic light for a second, when it is green we know to go, yellow we know to slow down, and red we know to stop. Without the light we would not be cautious about going through a busy intersection and would probably get hurt. The same thing applies to God's commands, He cautions us about danger heading into busy intersections that could hurt us.

Now, I would like to make one thing clear, while we are subject to those who are in authority over us, we are not subject to doing things that make us uncomfortable or are wrong. If anyone tries to make you do something that is morally wrong then you have every right to walk away and refuse. Once I had a job that I enjoyed, I was about to get a promotion, but the supervisor wanted something in order for me to receive that promotion. I refused and that job became so unbearable that I quit shortly after and found a better job. I found out a little late that the man got fired for trying to do the same thing to someone else. No amount of money or promotion is worth going against what we know is wrong. God would never subject someone to going against His Word in order to submit to His authority or anyone else's, if anyone tries to say that you are doing the will of God and it does not line up with the Bible than they are deceiving you. That is why it is so important that we read and learn God's Word for ourselves. Praise God that no matter what happens in our lives, He will get us through every pain, every sorrow, and every tear.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation


Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
devotion@readytofollow.com