In what ways can we ensure obedience to God's commands today? Setting the Scene with Ezekiel 5:7 “Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have been more rebellious than the nations around you and have not walked in My statutes or kept My ordinances, and because you have behaved worse than the nations around you…’” God’s charge against Jerusalem is unmistakable: disobedience to His statutes invites judgment. The verse confronts us with a sober reminder that covenant people are measured by wholehearted obedience, not by comparación with surrounding culture. Why Obedience Still Matters Today • God’s standards have not shifted (Malachi 3:6). • Jesus equates love with obedience: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15). • Discipleship is demonstrated, not merely professed (James 1:22). Practical Steps Toward Consistent Obedience 1. Anchor your life in daily Scripture intake • Psalm 119:9-11—hiding the Word guards against sin. • Schedule unhurried reading, meditation, and memorization. 2. Cultivate a responsive heart • Ezekiel 36:26-27 promises a new heart and Spirit to enable obedience. • Keep short accounts with God—confess promptly (1 John 1:9). 3. Submit to the Spirit’s leadership • Romans 8:13-14—those led by the Spirit put sin to death. • Pray for specific empowerment before tempting situations. 4. Practice immediate application • When a passage gives clear instruction, implement it the same day (Luke 6:46-49). • Small acts of prompt obedience train the conscience. 5. Embrace accountability within the church • Hebrews 10:24-25—gathering together stirs up love and good works. • Invite trusted believers to ask hard questions about your walk. 6. Guard influences that shape desires • Proverbs 4:23—“Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” • Evaluate media, friendships, and habits through the lens of Philippians 4:8. 7. Serve actively in God’s purposes • Ephesians 2:10—created for good works prepared by God. • Obedience flourishes when faith is expressed in service. 8. Live with eternity in view • 2 Corinthians 5:9-10—aim to please Him, knowing we will appear before Christ’s judgment seat. • Eternal perspective fuels present-tense fidelity. What to Expect as Obedience Grows • Deeper assurance of fellowship with God (John 15:10-11). • Increasing resemblance to Christ’s character (2 Corinthians 3:18). • A credible witness to a watching world (Matthew 5:16). • Protection from the discipline that fell on Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:5-11). Summing It Up Ezekiel 5:7 warns that God’s people cannot entertain compromise. By saturating ourselves in Scripture, yielding to the Spirit, and walking in accountable community, we position our hearts to obey—and thereby honor the Lord who saved us. |
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