Deuteronomy 11:1 – “You must love the Lord your God and do what he requires; keep his statutes, ordinances, and commandments at all times.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, the words “Explicit Obedience” kept reverberating in my heart and head.  Explicit obedience is only truly fruitful when done out of consuming love.

Deuteronomy 11:1, 8-9, 13-15 is emphatic about loving God completely and obeying explicitly.  God was so serious about this that He said in verses 26-28 that He has given us the choice of blessing and curse.

In Deuteronomy 18:9, we have the mandate to be transformers, not conformers.  We change the culture rather than assimilate into it. That is not done except by complete love and explicit obedience.

I love Philippians 1:6, where Paul assures the Philippians that God is capable and committed to finishing His work in us. He gives us a forward look, enabling us to live in the present!

Philippians 3:10-11 cannot be read without verses 12-14. Paul listed 5 things as goals: know (become one with) Jesus.  Out of that, knowing he would be able to experience the power of Jesus’ resurrection.  That would enable him to have the strength, courage, and willingness to share in Christ’s sufferings, which would strip him of fleshly control and become like Jesus in His death. Remember, the death of Jesus was to bring life, not simply the cessation of existence on earth. Then, as a result, attain the final resurrection as well as enter into resurrection life now!

Then he brings it into focus so everyone can understand the process and pursuit! “I’m not there yet, but that’s where I’m going!”   How to attain this is found in verses 13-14 – Singleness of focus and purpose.  God is my consuming passion and pursuit.  Bringing the focus into perspective. No looking back but reaching and longing for what’s ahead.  I see the prize, the finish line, the purpose, and the pathway. Therefore, I strive for that goal. In Philippians 4:4-9, we have the daily activities that enable us to pursue and attain the goal. Read those verses, commit them to heart and mind, and allow them freedom to become consistent daily practices!

Out of that mindset, Paul learned contentment!  Discontent is one of the biggest hindrances for modern believers. We don’t even realize it and refuse to acknowledge it, but it is prevalent. In a state of learned contentment, Paul said, “I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.”

Explicit Obedience out of a heart and mind filled with consuming love creates a condition of unstoppability!

LORD, guide our thoughts so that our minds are fixed on You and our hearts are open to Your Spirit!

Deuteronomy 5:1-2 – “Then Moses called all the people of Israel together and said to them: “Listen, Israel, to the statutes and ordinances that I am about to deliver to you today; learn them and be careful to keep them! ² The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, my heart was deeply challenged and overflowed with a renewed confidence in God.    In Deuteronomy, the Lord spoke to my heart to always read the Ten Commandments as the terms of the Covenant.

In the natural blood covenants, there were negotiated terms that each party had to keep, or the Covenant was nullified.  God’s Ten Commandments are not optional!  The terms of human covenants that were kept granted the other access to all that the other had and could provide.  If we obey, we have access to all God is and has!  It’s not earning it; it is a condition of covenant. He willingly chooses to provide.

When we consider the Book of Ephesians, we can easily become overwhelmed by the truth.  Therefore, it would be wise to absorb the message in bite-sized portions.  For example, Ephesians 1 begins with a revelation of what the “Blessed”  life involves and provides.   Every spiritual blessing from heaven is part of the package.  We have the security of knowing we were chosen in eternity past to be able to participate in this life!   Ephesians 1:11 says that God has claimed us as His own possession!

Ephesians 2:1-3 gives a picture of the life condition of the lost.  Then, verses 4-10 reveal what has been provided, who we are to be, and how we are to function. In Ephesians 2:21-22, we discover that the Christian life is one of progression and transformation. Day by day, we are changed.

In Ephesians 3:10-13, we have the confidence to engage in bold praying and living. In verses 16-21, we have the revelation to enable us to become empowered with Christ’s authority. In Ephesians 4:29, we are warned to watch what we say.   

In Ephesians 5:1-5, we see things to guard against that would keep us out of the inheritance; verses 3-4 are particularly germane.  Avoid sexual immorality or impurity of any kind.  Run from greed.  Clean up our language, resist foolish discussions, and develop an attitude of gratitude and Thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:1-5 is filled with life guidance that brings peace! Then Ephesians 6:10-18 provides the pathway to spiritual strength, the revelation of the real struggle, and how to stand or fight this fight.

God’s grace opens the door, but we have to walk through it and then participate in the development of the Blessed Life.  How much and how quickly we progress is dependent on our choices and investment (commitment).

Becoming requires honing, sharpening, being pruned, challenged, chastened, disciplined, and submitting to being discipled.  God has provided. He said in Deuteronomy that he had given them victory over a king before the battle, then said, “Now go fight.”   That applies here.   God has provided; now we have to go possess and become.

LORD, help us embrace Your Commandments, knowing they elevate us to a higher plane spiritually and a greater place of victory and freedom!

Numbers 33:50-56 – “The Lord spoke to Moses in the rift valley plains of Moab along the Jordan, across from Jericho. He said: ⁵¹ “Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, ⁵² you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images, all their molten images, and demolish their high places. ⁵³ You must dispossess the inhabitants of the land and live in it, for I have given you the land to possess it. ⁵⁴ You must divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families. To a larger group you must give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group you must give a smaller inheritance. Everyone’s inheritance must be in the place where his lot falls. You must inherit according to your ancestral tribes. ⁵⁵ But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those whom you allow to remain will be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your side, and will cause you trouble in the land where you will be living. ⁵⁶ And what I intended to do to them I will do to you.’”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was reminded of the process of possessing the promise.  In Numbers 33:51-53, God gave Moses specific instructions regarding Canaan – Their Place of Promise!  Their Inheritance.

He gave 4 directives: drive out, cleanse, dispossess, and possess.  Each is essential. In verse 53, He said, “You must dispossess the inhabitants of the land and live in it, for I have given you the land to possess it.”

Remember this: God’s Promises are often, if not always, occupied territory. What is it that hinders us from being who God wants us to be?  Is it pride, anger, jealousy, lust, covetousness, spiritual apathy, longings of the flesh, prayerlessness, or something else?  Those enemies must be dispossessed before we can become or manifest what we are to be.

Galatians 3:27-29 reveals a pathway to victory.   Baptized into Christ – do make that about water, but relationship.  Baptism is a type of death, burial, and resurrection.  We then clothe ourselves with Christ. We yield our entire being to Him.   Galatians 5:16-21 gives an answer to becoming.   

Living under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to resist the desires of the flesh. We can control our thoughts and actions! We become more than conquerors!

Galatians 6:7-10 is a powerful encouragement. Keep doing what is right, even when the flesh is throwing a hissy fit, and eventually it will pay off. Galatians 6:14-15 is the key.  Through the Cross, we are crucified to the world. We are New Creations with a new spiritual DNA and a clean slate. No past, only a new future!

Make it your purpose to drive out, cleanse, dispossess, and possess God’s Promise(s). It is your heritage, but it requires your commitment and involvement.

LORD, help us learn to dispossess so we can possess Your Promises!

Numbers 20:12 – “Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to show me as holy before the Israelites, therefore you will not bring this community into the land I have given them.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was challenged in my spirit.    I was led to reflect on God’s expectation and requirement from and for each of us.

The expectation of explicit obedience was not just for leaders (Moses and Aaron).  In Numbers 20:6-12, we have the instructions to speak to the rock and get water.   Moses let his flesh blind him to the requirement of explicit obedience!   His disobedience cost him the privilege and joy of possessing the promise – the land.  

His failure to explicitly obey was a revelation of a lack of trust (v 12), and that failure resulted in unfulfilled destiny.   God’s gifts and call are irrevocable, but fulfilling our destiny can be subverted by failure to obey explicitly.

Explicit obedience is not always, and maybe is never, easy!    Paul’s life was characterized by obedience (explicit).  He enjoyed extraordinary revelation and saw amazing miracles and demonstrations of God’s power.  That presented a danger that all face: pride and becoming puffed up.   As a preventative and a constant reminder of where his strength and grace lay, God permitted a messenger of satan to trouble him.  

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul identified the reason and purpose of the pest.   “So, I would not become arrogant…” It was a reminder of his true source of strength.   He didn’t want it to remain and pleaded 3 times for deliverance.  But God opted to leave it as a reminder, “My grace is enough for you, My power is made perfect in (human) weakness.”  That brought Paul to the place where he could, in confidence and trust, say, “Whenever I am weak (in my human ability), then I am strong.”

Paul’s parting words to the Corinthian church are germane today!  2 Corinthians 13:11 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, REJOICE, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, AND the God of Love and Peace will be with you.”   The result of God being with us is Peace, Power, Protection, and Provision.

An aside I heard in my spirit is from 2 Corinthians 11:14: “Deceivers Deceive!”   People follow deception because the deceivers offer a false hope that the deceived desperately want to be true.   The deceived ignore facts and believe illogical lies because they want the deception to be true.  That opens the door to placing trust in something other than God and to more deception. Beware!

Father, help us to obey explicitly all the time and every time!

Leviticus 22:20 – “You must not present anything (to God as an offering) that has a flaw.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I was challenged by a thought that had resided in my heart for quite some time. “Only the Best.”

That statement is inconclusive and easily misconstrued without explanation. In Leviticus 22:20, we read, “You MUST NOT present anything (to God as an offering) that has a flaw.”   In verse 22, it is even more detailed. The thought and truth is, “Only the Best” is acceptable to God.   That includes us.

What we give or dedicate to God cannot be flawed.  Half-heartedness is a flawed offering.  Lackadaisical service is a flawed offering.  What we give God must be whole, complete, total, and pure! He accepts nothing less!

Often, I hear the lament that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not manifested in life or in the church.  One reason is our failure to understand the purpose of the gifts and our failure to give God a pure vessel to use.

1 Corinthians 12:17 reveals the purpose of the manifestation and operation of the gifts – “for the benefit(development) of everyone.”  In 1 Corinthians 13, we have the platform for the operation of the gifts- LOVE!

I suggest reading 1 Corinthians 12:31 as an introduction to 1 Corinthians 13. Paul says, “Eagerly desire and seek the greater gifts.” Then he continues, “And NOW I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.” That leads to 1 Corinthians 13.

Do we want more of God’s manifestation in our lives and churches?   Love is the key and catalyst.  Love God.  Love others.  Love who God designed us to be.

It is impossible to consistently manifest and exhibit the characteristics of 1 Corinthians 13 through willpower.  Only a transformed heart will consistently manifest patience, kindness, lack of envy, or self-explanation. Only a transformed heart has the ability to consistently avoid rudeness, selfishness, anger, and resentment. Only the transformed consistently desire truth, justice, and endure the burdens of others. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude and hope!

1 Corinthians 14:1, the apostle reminds us of the power and need of this gift to God – Love!   In 1 Corinthians 16:14, we realize that the foundation of all we are and do is Love!

Love is not words, nor a feeling; it is action. It’s an attitude and commitment. It is purpose-driven, seeking the best good for God, others, and ourselves. Only the Best is acceptable! Give God your best, and He gives you His Best!

LORD, help us to offer you our best so we can receive your best!