WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
FEBRUARY 5, 2022
TOPIC: THERE’S NO EXCUSE FOR DISOBEYING THE WORD OF GOD
BY T. O. BANSO
“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8 New King James Version).
The Word of God is to be obeyed, not to be debated. Unfortunately, human beings, including Christians, often do the latter. Many times we also give excuses why we cannot do what God says we should do.
God will never ask anyone to do what he cannot do. That would be unfair. Whenever we say that we cannot do what God says we should do, we make Him a liar. We say that His word is not true.
You must commit to doing every Word of God, because you can do it, not in your strength, but by His power. In the letter that Jesus wrote through the apostle John to the seven churches of Asia, He said concerning the church in Philadelphia, “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8 New King James Version). Please take note of the phrase “have kept My word.”
Jesus acknowledged that the church in Philadelphia had little strength or power. This church could have used that as an excuse for not obeying the word or teaching of Jesus it had received and renouncing or denying His name. But it didn’t give excuses. It obeyed. The New Living Translation presents that scripture thus: “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me” (Revelation 3:8).
See what the Lord said to this church from verses 8-9: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you” (New King James Version).
Stop giving excuses for disobeying the Word of God. If God clearly says you should do something, do it without delay. It is a different matter if you need clarifications, in case of certain instructions by the Holy Spirit. But if it is a Bible verse that is very clear, that does not apply. There is nothing ambiguous about what Bible says about forgiveness, repentance, love, or sin.
You can do whatever God says you can do. Paul said he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him (Philippians 4:13). Commit yourself to obey the Word of God. Receive the help of the Holy Spirit to do what God says you should do. Don’t give excuses. Excuses won’t justify you before God.
The psalmist says in Psalm 119:60, “Without delay, I hurry to obey your commands” (Good News Translation). Obey God promptly. Delayed obedience is the same as disobedience. Verse 112 of Psalm 119, in the Good News Translation, says, “I have decided to obey your laws until the day I die.” The Contemporary English Version renders it thus: “I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what.” The New King James Version says, “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end.”
Don’t give excuses for disobeying the Word of God. It won’t work. The prophet Samuel told King Saul, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22 New King James Version). Saul disobeyed God twice and gave excuses on each occasion. His excuses were not tenable.
His excuse for offering sacrifice thereby intruding into the office of the priest was that Samuel had not come within the period he had promised. he said the people were scattered from him and that the Philistines assembled themselves at Michmash. According to him, he said to himself that the Philistines would come down on him at Gilgal and he had not made supplication to the LORD yet. Therefore, he forced himself to offer the burnt offering (1 Samuel 13:11-12).
Giving an excuse for disobeying God’s command to completely destroy the Amalekites, Saul, who initially claimed to have obeyed God, told Samuel that the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice to the God of Samuel but they had completely destroyed the rest. Saul brought back Agag, the king of Amalek, instead of killing him (1 Samuel 15:15, 20-21). Saul lost the throne because he disobeyed God.
Give no excuses for disobeying God. Adam and Eve gave excuses. Adam blamed God and Eve (Genesis 3:12-13). Eve blamed the serpent. Neither of them admitted their sin. God passed judgment on them for their disobedience and evicted them from the Garden of Eden. Don’t justify your sins. Confess them, not apologize. Repent, don’t just feel sorry for your sins.
According to Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (New King James Version). That scripture doesn’t say apologize. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (New King James Version). Confess your sins.
Peter said, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38 New King James Version). Did you see the word repent? Peter didn’t say feel sorry for your sins. Repentance goes beyond being sorry for your sins. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19 New King James Version). True repentance means to turn away from sin to God. It’ involves a change of heart, not just showing remorse.
There is no excuse for sin. “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin” (John 15:22 New King James Version). Stop giving excuses for disobeying the Word of God. 1 John 5:3b says God’s commandments are not burdensome, grievous, hard, or difficult. Obey Him.
Obey willing and promptly. “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword’ For the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isaiah 1:19-20 New King James Version).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I repent of my past disobedience to Your Word. I will no longer give excuses for disobeying Your Word. I commit myself to obey Your Word until I die; I will obey no matter what. Help me, Holy Spirit, to obey the Word of God willingly and promptly henceforth. Holy Spirit, bring every rebellious soul to repentance and obedience to the Word of God.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
