What other scriptures emphasize the importance of following God's commandments? The Anchor Verse: 1 Kings 8:58 “May He incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.” Echoes in the Law of Moses • Exodus 15:26 — “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, if you pay attention to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” • Deuteronomy 6:17 — “You must diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God and the testimonies and statutes He has given you.” • Deuteronomy 11:1 — “Love the LORD your God and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.” • Joshua 1:7–8 — “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you… This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.” Voices from Psalms and Wisdom • Psalm 19:7 — “The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.” • Psalm 119:1–2 — “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.” • Psalm 119:60 — “I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.” • Proverbs 3:1–2 — “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.” Prophets Calling for Obedience • Isaiah 48:17–18 — “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer… ‘If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.’” • Jeremiah 7:23 — “This is what I commanded them: ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. Walk in all the way that I command you, that it may go well with you.’” • Ezekiel 18:9 — “He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances; he is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Lord GOD.” • Micah 6:8 — “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Jesus on Loving Obedience • Matthew 7:21 — “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” • John 14:15 — “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • John 14:23 — “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” • Matthew 28:20 — “…teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Apostolic Reminders • Romans 2:13 — “For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.” • James 1:22 — “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” • 1 John 2:3–4 — “By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” • Revelation 14:12 — “Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Living It Out Today • Recognize obedience as a heart response—God “inclines” the heart (1 Kings 8:58) yet expects active walking in His ways. • View commandments as life-giving, not restrictive (Psalm 19:7; Isaiah 48:17–18). • Measure love by lived-out loyalty to Christ’s words (John 14:15). • Let perseverance in obedience mark genuine faith (Revelation 14:12). |
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