Take Your Place and Be Obedient: You are the Essential Ingredient in God's Kingdom

As a child, I remember growing up in my family and my parents stressing obedience. I always remembered my father stressing this vehemently. As it turned out, I always tried to comply with everything that was requested of me. As I look back, I was an obedient child for the most part, however, I had my moments when I was not obedient. Due to those moments of being disobedient, I had to accept the consequences of my actions. The desire to please my parents was always ingrained in me. I didn’t want to disappoint them, because they were loving to my siblings and I. They nurtured us. They provided for us. They protected my siblings and I. When all was said and done, they loved us unconditionally. In all of this, we paid with consequences for disobedience, we still knew that we were loved.

I heard a pastor once say that when you are obedient to God, the dove stays nearby. However, when an offense of disobedience has occurred, the dove flies away. He stated that at that time, God’s heart is grieving. “YOU SHOULD DESIRE TO FOLLOW GOD’S WILL ABOVE ALL ELSE.” God’s gives us all free will to choose what is right and what is wrong. Learn where to find “THE KEY TO KNOWING GOD’S WILL” for you life. Do you know your destiny? Have you every asked God to reveal it to you? Do you even care? (John 16:18; Romans 8:32)

I have worked in the criminal justice system in Texas for twenty years in September. I always known that I will retire if it is God’s will due to people making wrong choices. If we as Christians make wrong choices, God is right there giving us grace and mercy in hopes that you will desire to make the right choices to live a productive and fruitful Christian life. We have heard many times that “God’s Grace Abounds”. However, the criminal justice system is not so forgiving. It is easier to ”fake it until we make it.” Sounds familiar? Well, God is not the one to fake it with! This is “INSINCERE OBEDIENCE.” (2 Chronicles 25:2.) We all do or have done it. For example, we do or say anything to our employers, spouses or friends to get along, especially if that person has authority over us. Does this sound familiar?

In relationships between men and women, we are to
“MAINTAIN SEXUAL PURITY.” This is the law of God. Have you everyone gone shopping in the grocery store and tasted a grape before you bought the bunch? It is stealing, no matter how you justify it by saying that everyone does it. Sex before marriage is wrong and God will not bless this mess. I( Peter 1:14-16)

In our streets today, there is a code of silence. They are burglaries robberies, thefts, rapes and murders occurring each and everyday somewhere in this world. However, in some neighborhoods, these crimes will never be reported to the authorities. Many of our family members and friends are incarcerated, because they do not want to be known as a snitch. In the world of a Christian, you must always take your stand for Christ, “NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS THINK!” A sincere Christian will always take a stand for Christ regardless of peer pressure, popular opinion or opposition. (Matthew 26:57-75)

Policemen, Wardens, Correctional Officers and Husbands all have one thing in common. They are in a position of authority.
If a person has authority over you, it is best to “TAME YOUR TONGUE.” The same tongue that you use on Sunday mornings to praise the Lord with, you turn around and use on Monday morning insult someone with your fire breathing words. If we are to please God and maintain a testimony that brings glory to our Lord, we must control what we say.
(James 3:6-9)

During the course of a wanted man’s life, he gets tired of doing the same old thing over and over. It’s tiresome to keep looking over your shoulder and wondering what is going to happen next. Will I get caught? Will someone rob me? Will someone kill me? Sooner or later, they get tired of looking over their shoulder and turn themselves in to the authorities. Immediately, the glow of peace appears and they are relived, no matter what their consequences may be. Obedience to the Lord in every facet of our lives is "THE KEY TO INNER SECURITY” and experiencing the presence of God. (I Peter 1:18-20)

Just as a criminal decides to retire his life of crime and make up his mind to follow the societal standard of living, you too as a Christian must follow the will of God and not your own.

Remember to “TAKE YOUR PLACE AND BE OBEDIENT, YOU ARE THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IN GOD’S KINGDOM. (Matthew 6:33)