Sometimes we go through life, praying very hard for something that matters deeply to us and we wonder why God doesn’t answer. Sometimes, we feel like God is far away in way-off-distant Heaven. And sometimes, we feel as if God doesn’t care about what we are going through. When we hit these snags in life, it’s usually a good idea to stop and take a self inventory of where we are spiritually. Are we living obediently? Are we radiating Christ? Do we spend time in Bible study and prayer? Do we walk God’s statutes, keep His commandments, and do them?
The “If…Then” promises
God told Israel that IF they walked in His statues, kept His commandments, and do them, THEN they would see the blessings of God in their lives. We can’t go through life living any way we want to and expect God to bless the mess we make in the process. We have to live obedient lives to Him and to His commandments…and dowhat His Word says.
My dad once used a sermon illustration about a woman who decided that everything she came to something in the Bible that she didn’t like, she’d just cut that section out. We can’t name and claim all the promises and choose to ignore all the warnings and commands. God is an “all or nothing” God. It only takes one sin for you to become a sinner – and it doesn’t matter if that sin is telling a small lie or committing a felony. Only one sin and we are out of fellowship with God.
Walk in My Statutes
If we want to walk in God’s statutes, we need to know what they are. Here are five statutes that God gives us in His Word:
- Love God (with your heart, soul, and might) Deuteronomy 6:1-9
- Listen to God’s voice and His commandments. Exodus 15:25-26
- Seek God entirely; focus on His commandments. Deuteronomy 6:1-9
- Do what God considers to be right; walk in God’s ways; commit no wrong. Psalm 119:1-8
- Obey God’s laws, testimonies, and righteous rules. Ezekiel 26:26-27
Keep my commandments
So we are to walk in God’s statutes, but we are also to keep His commandments. Aren’t these the same thing? When we look at the original Hebrew words, we can see the differences between the two: The word “Statute” is the Hebrew word Choq (Strong’s: H2706) It is a condition or civil enactment from God, an ordinance, a limit, or something prescribed. The word “requirement” could be used to define choq. So, a statute is a decree, requirement or boundary that God set in place for our good.
The word “commandment” is the Hebrew word “Mitsvah” (Strongs: H4687, from H6680) which means “a commandment of men or God, a commandment out of a code of wisdom. If we go back to the root word, “Tsavah” (H6680) we find a more helpful definition. Tsavah mean “to lay a charge upon”, “to command”, “to charge”, to give orders”, or “to appoint.” Using this, we can then see that a commandment is an order to do something, or a charge given to us to watch over and keep, and to follow.
Do Them
It’s one thing to read the Bible and know what it says. It’s a whole other matter to keep His commandment, and something else entirely to actually do what the Bible says. But James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” It isn’t enough to just know God’s Word. You have to do it. Satan probably knows the entire Bible from memory including the Table of Contents and dictionary and the concordance in the back. He doesn’t even need to glance at the maps in the back because he’s been roaming the earth seeking whom he can devour since the Garden of Eden. He probably knows it in every language and in every translation. But he will still spend eternity in hell. Knowing isn’t enough.
Walk. Keep. Do.
Only when we walk in His statutes, keep His commandments, and live obediently to His Word can we expect for God to bless us. When we are living according to His Word, then we are walking in His will and we will do what He’s planned for us to do. Whenever we are in God’s Will and walking in His way, then we can be assured that His blessings will come – even if we have to go through a trial or two first so that He can teach us something new.
What does your spiritual self-inventory look like today: Are you walking in His statutes, keeping His commandments, and doing them?
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
Jeremiah 29:13
For America to see revival, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says we are to seek God’s face. Jeremiah tells us that we will find Him when we search for Him with all our hearts.
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God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
- Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
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