Simple Obedience, Sure Foundation
Written February 2017
“Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” (Numbers 20:8 ESV)
The other day I had the opportunity to speak with the kindergarten, first and second grade classes at Bradford Academy. The headmaster was on a field trip with the high school students so I was asked to bring a devotional to the younger students. I spoke to them about Moses at Kadesh in Numbers 20 and how there, they had no water and Moses and Aaron prayed to God. God told Moses to go and speak to the rock that was before his eyes and God would make water come forth.
I talked to them about how Moses was called to be obedient and actually brought a little rock for them to talk to and how it was important for all of us to be obedient to God. I pointed out that God didn’t ask Moses to Simple Obedience. . continued on Next Page
bring forth water from the rock, but rather He told him to talk to it, something that was simple and that everyone of them could do. I taught them that God uses our obedience to bring forth great things in this world and that was why it was so important to obey your teachers and parents. That way they could learn well and be great sons and daughters.
The kids were great and they enjoyed the lesson and I enjoyed teaching it but after I gave it I began thinking about how powerful our simple obedience is when it comes to laying a sure foundation for our lives. God never asks us to do miracles. God does however ask us to be obedient to Him and through that He does amazing things and one those things is set up a sure foundation for our lives to be built upon.
Think about it, simple obedience to the principles laid out in God’s Word protects and prepares our lives for the future. God’s Word is packed with sound principles for dealing with finances, relationships, overcoming fear, and avoiding things that can ruin our lives. May we all be ones that would continually lay a sure foundation for our life through simple obedience to the Word of God.
How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I’m single – minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted. I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. I’ll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches.
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I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you’ve done it. I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it.
Psalm 119:9-16 (The Message) Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. (James 1:14 – 15 NLT)
