Hi all! I am still in Genesis reading and God has been showing me deeper truths in His Word. I have been asking the Lord about obedience for maybe a year now. Allot of times in prayer even a year ago, I was getting the sense of this year being such a critical time of knowing whom we are serving. I love the scripture Joshua 24:15 “As for Me and my household, we will serve the Lord”. I placed that scripture up on the dining room wall to remind me that I truly believe it is critical to stay the course even when we might not “feel” like it. It is a declaration but not just by words. I continuously ask the Lord to be in my actions as well. Because to me, obedience is KEY! When Adam and Eve were given the garden and everything in it, they had it made! Or it was supposed to be that way. But, one commandment, ONE, mind you! One commandment and the enemy swooped in and then flesh joined right with the enemy. Well we know the chain of events after they sinned! Disobedience. Look how many that one sin affected. Wow……..my disobedience doesn’t just affect me, but God, my husband, my sons, and possibly many more. How about Noah. God had enough of the evil and He was grieved of how the people that He created had become. It hurts my heart to read that the Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth and his heart was filled with pain! (Genesis 6:6) Noah was the ONLY one who was found righteous in God’s eyes. I don’t think it was a coincidence that it describes Noah as a righteous man, blameless among the people and that he walked with God. (Genesis 6:9) Or several times the Bible states that Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22, 7:5, 7:9, 7:16) and then in Genesis 8:1 it states “God remembered Noah”. Noah and his family was saved from the flood that wiped out the earth. Do you believe it was because he walked with God, was righteous and because he was obedient to what God said. I believe so. Obedience. It is the way to fullness of what He wants. Jesus died on the cross. There is no way to be obedient to be saved and have eternal life with Him. THAT IS ONLY THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS DYING on the cross. But God wants us to have fullness, in every area and to receive His rich promises. Obedience is the key. What do you think? Ok, one more example I read in Genesis. Abraham…….despite God’s swift judgment of sin, most people ignored him and continued to sin in Abraham’s time. But a handful was trying to really follow him. One of them was Abraham and because of his obedience, God appeared to Abraham one day and promised to make his descendants in a great nation. But Abraham’s part of the agreement was to obey God. He remained faithful through tests and twists and turns. Not a perfect man was Abraham but was obedient to what God was speaking to and God was able to bless through him JUST as He wants to bless through us and our obedience. So, to me, obedience is key to a rich, whole, fulfilling relationship with God and in our lives. Lord, help me today, to be obedient to your Word. Cause my heart to love the things you love and to hate the things you hate. Thank you for dying on the cross for me and promising me eternal life in Heaven. But thank you also that you desire to give us wholeness and fulfilled promises even before I get to Heaven. Thank you for your word. Help me to be obedient.

Be blessed!

Kelly