King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Obedience To The Will Of God
Date: Thursday August 25, 2011
Chapters: Jeremiah 37-40, Proverb 25, Psalm 76
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Hello My Friend/Guest,

“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full...If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” -John 15:9-11,18-21.

True Christians, those saved who allow Christ to live in their lives, do not keep God's commands because He tells them to, they keep them because they love Him and truly want to live in obedience to His will. Are they perfect? Certainly not! Are they sinless? Absolutely not! Are they better than those who live in the world? Most certainly not! Do they have God's favor? Absolutely yes! If we receive the Son, the Father receives us, giving us favor over those who live in the world. “And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.” - Romans 9:26.

Living in obedience to the will of God is not always easy, we are in constant opposition with those who want to live in the world. And sadly, you will find that the ones you have the most opposition with are those who have been saved. Why? They are not living in obedience to the will of God themselves. People who are quick to persecute others are usually the biggest persecutors of all.

When God called Jeremiah to speak to the people of Judah about the judgment that they were about to face I imagine that he had no idea how difficult it would be to get them to listen to him. It was difficult, in fact, the more he talked to them the more difficult it got. Now, the destruction had begun, just as he warned them and the Chaldean's are attacking Jerusalem. The first thing they did was accuse Jeremiah of sending the Chaldean's to them, then he was cast into prison by the kings princes.

“Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself thence in the midst of the people. And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans. Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes. Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.” - Jeremiah 37:12-15.

Although Jeremiah was being falsely accused and suffered persecution he had God's favor. Sometimes the trials we face can feel like they will never end and that God is never around, but it is through these trials that God works miracles in us. All trials come to pass and, let me tell you, they are a testimony and hope to others as well, which can bring them to know Christ as too. “Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” - II Timothy 2:9,10.

Jeremiah's intentions were to slip himself in with Jews heading to Babylon before all the destruction began, but God had other plans. Now, here is Jeremiah sitting in a prison, probably wondering why he was even sitting there. Meanwhile, Nebuchadnezzar captured king Zedekiah and his sons, executed his sons right before his eyes, put out his eyes, then put him in chains and carried him off to Babylon. Now when Nebuchadnezzar's guards found Jeremiah in the prison something miraculous happened.

“Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee...Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.” - Jeremiah 39:11,12,15-18

God always takes care of us, yes, we face constant criticism, false accusations, and even persecution, but we need not worry or seek revenge ourselves, He gets the revenge it for us. We can live in obedience to the will of God and be blessed. We just keep pressing forward, enduring our trials, trusting God, knowing that in the end we are blessed to be in the will of God. I told this woman yesterday that the devil loves to attack those who are close to God, in fact, the more trials you face the close you know you are to God. Consider yourself blessed during the trials you face, because you are, you have God on your side, you have His Son living in you, you have eternal life. Praise God!

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” - I Peter 4:12-17.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, how amazing is Your indescribable love and grace that You should love a sinner such as I. Though I deserve death You granted me eternal life by believing in and accepting Your Son into my life. Now, I am accepted into Your family through the obedience and love of Your Son, who died for my sins. Let me learn from the example of Christ who suffered more than anyone else for crimes He did commit to remain in obedience to Your will no matter what trials I face. Lead me and guide me, and help me to be a living sacrifice for You. I love You Lord, and ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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