What steps can we take to ensure obedience to God's commands today? Setting the Scene “Some men passed by and saw the body thrown on the road… with the lion and the donkey standing beside it” (1 Kings 13:25). A single broken command ended the prophet’s ministry, reputation, and life. The vivid roadside tableau stakes out the importance of wholehearted obedience. Step 1 – Treat God’s Word as Final Authority • “All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching…” (2 Timothy 3:16) • Yield every opinion, habit, and tradition to the plain sense of Scripture. • Refuse partial obedience; the prophet obeyed the journey yet ignored the meal restriction. Step 2 – Test Every Voice by the Written Word • “Even if we or an angel preach a gospel contrary…, let him be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8) • Compare counsel, dreams, or feelings with Scripture before acting. • A respected older prophet misled the man of God; spiritual rank never overrides God’s voice. Step 3 – Obey Immediately and Completely • “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) • Delay erodes resolve; immediate action seals conviction. • Complete obedience leaves no loose ends for compromise. Step 4 – Guard Against Competing Loyalties • “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) • Eliminate ties that tug toward disobedience—relationships, media, habits. • Keep first love undistracted; singular loyalty simplifies decisions. Step 5 – Keep Scripture Before Mind and Heart • “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) • Daily reading, memorizing, and meditating fortify inner resolve. • “Meditate on it day and night… do everything written in it.” (Joshua 1:8) Step 6 – Walk in Holy Fear • “Keep the commandments of the LORD your God, walking in His ways and fearing Him.” (Deuteronomy 8:6) • Reverence remembers consequences while delighting in God’s goodness. • Healthy fear prevents casual handling of divine instructions. Step 7 – Depend on the Spirit for Power • “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13) • The Spirit enables what flesh resists. • Sensitivity to His promptings steers away from subtle compromise. Step 8 – Stay Accountable in Community • Fellowship exposes blind spots and reinforces convictions. • Share goals, confess struggles, celebrate victories together. • Obedience flourishes where believers “consider how to spur one another on” (cf. Hebrews 10:24). Step 9 – Focus on Love for Christ • “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) • Love transforms duty into delight. • “His commands are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) Step 10 – Persevere to the End • “We must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so we do not drift away.” (Hebrews 2:1) • Yesterday’s obedience does not secure tomorrow’s faithfulness. • Regular self-examination and course correction keep the road clear. The roadside lesson of 1 Kings 13:25 warns and invites: embrace these steps, and obedience becomes the steady path of life rather than a casualty on the highway. |
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