You Mean God’s Commands are Good for Us?
You Mean God's commands are good for us?
Monday, I wrote about starting the day singing (or speaking) of the love and strength of the Lord. Go ahead and do that for a minute.
“Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” – Proverbs 21:21
Why would you say it is important for us to follow God’s commands?
If you said it’s because He’s God and we’re not, you’re right, but maybe there’s more.
If you said, it’s because God’s ways are holy and we should be holy, you’re also right, but maybe there’s more.
If you said, it’s because we love God and want to please Him, that’s good, too.
These are all really good reasons to obey God’, but it turns out that following God’s commands is also really good for us in a practical sense, too.
It’s interesting, for example, that while there are many factors that can go into what leads to people living in poverty, many of the primary causes are directly related to whether we make choices in line with God’s Word.
Things like working hard in school (1 Corinthians 10:31, Proverbs 4:13), waiting until marriage to have children (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5), not getting arrested (Romans 13:1-7), and not getting divorced (Matthew 5:31-32) are among the greatest influences.
Thousands of years ago when Proverbs 21:21 was written, they knew this. If you pursue righteousness and love others, you will do well in life.
Crazy, right? If we follow God’s commands, it’s good for us. Who knew?
What are some other ways following God’s commands is good for your life?
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Law. It is good, holy, and good for me. Help me to love Your Law and follow it.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
21 Days of Prayer – Day 20
21 DAYS OF PRAYER - DAY 20
Heavenly Father,
Great is Your faithfulness, O God. Even when we fail, You are faithful. We praise Your Name and lift You up, along with Your angels. May Your praise never leave my lips for You, alone, are worthy of all honor and power and glory, forever and ever.
I confess that I have not always lived according to Your commands. I have not been Your faithful disciple nor followed Your teachings. I have not loved You with my whole heart and I have not loved my neighbor as myself.
(take a moment to reflect on the past day and confess your sins.)
I am sorry for my sins and pray for Your great mercy. For the sake of Jesus Christ, please forgive me of all my sins.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Amen
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Jesus,
All Your ways are good. You are holy and righteous, loving and gracious, wise and pure. Help me to desire to learn Your commands and follow them faithfully, trusting that they are always the best choice. When I get proud and feel my ways are better, remind me that You are God and I am not. You are creator and I am Your creation.
When we follow Your ways, we do so not only for our benefit, but for the benefit of those around us. As we follow Your commands we love each other with a true love. We serve as Your hands and feet, providing for the needs around us according to Your will. May I bring glory to Your name and do good works that those who do not know You would praise You.
Lord, I cannot follow Your commands without Your Spirit working in me to will and work according to Your good pleasure. Be with me. Fill me with Your Spirit and grow in me the fruit of the Spirit that I may joyfully live a life of faith and love.
Be with Faith Lutheran Church. Make Your presence known among us. Be our head as You are the head of the church. Teach us, guide us, and direct us that we may, together, teach Your Word correctly and faithfully and show true love and compassion for each other and those outside the church.
Fill us with Your Spirit and give us the gifts used in ministry. To faithfully be Your church we need all the parts of the body to serve in their function and work together. Show us our gifts and help us to serve with sacrificial humility according to the gifts You have given us. Where we lack gifts, bring us new people to join our body and walk with us.
Through all our service and proclamation of Your Word, may You be glorified and may many come to receive salvation in You.
Amen.
The Psalms:
The Psalms have long been considered the prayer book of the Bible and have been used as prayers by countless Christians over the centuries. So, we join them in this practice and pray a Psalm.
Psalm 27
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
(Take a few minutes to add your personal prayers, now.)
Conclude your time of prayer with either Luther’s morning or evening prayer, depending on what time of day it is.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank you, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Luther’s Evening Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray You to forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt