Week 7 – The Importance of Walking in God’s Ways

Nov 24, 2010 Gary Henry C - Obedience

“My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly” (Psalm 119:167).

If we are to be among the people of God and have the hope of eternal life, we must not only learn to think as God thinks (in our character), we must actually do His will (in our conduct). We must learn to obey God and walk in His ways.

One difficulty we sometimes have is that of knowing God’s will but failing to do anything about it. The Bible speaks often about the importance of not just hearing God’s will, but actually doing it (James 1:22-24; etc.). Truly being a seeker of God means that we strive for integrity: consistency between our principles and our actions. Having learned God’s will, our faith must show up in works. As the song says, we must “trust and obey.” This “obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5) is one of the defining characteristics of the Christian. When we do what God instructs, from the heart and because we trust Him, we are the spiritual heirs of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-9; Hebrews 11:8-19; James 2:21-23).

Even in the Old Testament, God repeatedly emphasized that His desire was for a people who would obey Him. Obedience was expected of the physical nation of Israel back then, and the prophecies that looked forward to the “new covenant” also spoke of the necessity of obedience (Jeremiah 31:31-34). God’s people would be those who submitted reverently and gratefully to His authority. “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 11:19,20). Other important passages along the same line are Isaiah 2:1-4 and Malachi 3:17,18.

One passage that goes to the heart of the matter is Deuteronomy 10:12,13, where Moses spoke to the nation of Israel: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” After all is said and done, the spiritual kingdom that God has established, foreshadowed by the ancient nation of Israel, is populated by those willing to submit to Him as King and live by His laws.

“Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Monday: Psalm 40:6-8

Key Idea: God desires that we obey Him “from the heart.”

1. Look carefully at v.8. What are some ways that David’s attitude is different from the attitude that many seem to have toward obedience to God?
2. Why do you think it’s important to “delight” in doing God’s will? What is the attitude reflected in Psalm 119:35,47,167?
3. Think about the importance of the “heart.” What points are made in Deuteronomy 6:4-6 and 30:14?
4. Do you think David’s approach to obedience was a part of what made him a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14)? In what different ways would you say David’s viewpoint was different from that of his predecessor Saul?
5. What does God want from us: (1) correct outward actions, (2) true inward love for Him, or (3) both? In John 4:23,24, what did Jesus say? How important was obedience to Jesus Himself, according to John 4:34 and 6:38?

Tuesday: Psalm 119:34

Key Idea: Our obedience to God must be WHOLEHEARTED.

1. How would you put into your own words the attitude reflected in the Psalmist’s statement: “I shall observe it with my whole heart”? Look also at 119:10.
2. Consider Psalm 86:11. What would a “united” heart be?
3. What did James say about the problem of double-mindedness in James 1:6-8 and 4:7,8?
4. How important is it that we have an honest, genuine intent to obey God? What did Jesus say in John 7:17 and 8:42-47?
5. What is the very highest attitude we can have toward God’s will, as expressed in Matthew 26:39,42 by Jesus in Gethsemane?

Wednesday: Psalm 119:57-60

Key Idea: Our obedience to God must be PROMPT.

1. Why is it important that we not “delay” in keeping God’s commandments?
2. What does Genesis 22:1-3 reveal about Abraham’s attitude toward obedience?
3. What is the point of the story told by Jesus in Matthew 21:28-32?
4. What might David have meant when he prayed to God, “Early will I seek You” (Psalm 63:1)?
5. What is said about “today” in Hebrews 3:12-15?

Thursday: Psalm 1:1-6

Key Idea: God’s law is a good thing, intended for our benefit.

1. What does the word “blessed” mean? In what ways is a person “blessed” who keeps God’s law?
2. Consider the relationship between “freedom” and “law.” Is law an inherently undesirable thing that restricts our liberty? In their environment of perfect happiness, did Adam and Eve have any restrictions on what they could do? Can there be any real freedom without some “governing” of our behavior? What was said to Israel in Leviticus 18:5? Where is there more safety and security: inside the limits of God’s law or outside? Consider Psalm 119:1,2,45,93. Is a “fence” always a bad thing?
3. Are God’s requirements a “burden” we must bear? What do Matthew 11:28-30 and 1 John 5:3 say? Think seriously about this: what must be our attitude toward God Himself in order for His commandments not to seem burdensome?
4. In Deuteronomy 4:5-8, what attitude toward God’s law were the people of Israel to have?
5. According to Psalm 84:10,11, will good things come to those who obey God? Cf. 2 Chron. 17:6.

Friday: Psalm 105:42-45

Key Idea: The people of God are those who submit to His rule in their hearts and lives.

1. Who are God’s “people” in this passage? In v.45, what are they to do? In Exodus 19:5,6, what “covenant” was entered into by God and Israel? What was said in passages like Deuteronomy 5:29-33; 26:16-19; 28:9? Who are God’s “people” today? What does 1 Peter 2:9,10 say?
2. Think about the analogy between the “people of God” and a “kingdom.” A kingdom is a realm ruled by the authority of a king. In one sense, every human being stands under the authority of God, because all have been created by Him and will be judged by His law (Acts 17:30,31). But in a special sense, God’s kingdom refers to those who submit to His authority. Many people would say they’re in this kingdom, but what did Jesus teach in Luke 6:46 about the necessity of obedience? Also see Matthew 7:21.
3. What are some of the basic, fundamental principles of God’s law? For starters, consider justice (Psalm 106:3; Micah 6:8) and love (Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3). What others can you think of?
4. What does it mean to accept the “lordship” of Jesus Christ? Consider Colossians 3:17 and 1 Peter 3:15. See also Colossians 2:6.

Putting It All Together

What does God desire from us? He certainly desires obedience, but He also desires obedience from the heart. If we truly love God and seek Him, we’ll obey Him wholeheartedly and promptly. We’ll come to see God’s law not as an unpleasant burden, but as a great blessing that He has given us for our benefit. If we wish to be among God’s people, we must submit to His authority in reverence and in gratitude.

Gary Henry – WordPoints.com