Listening to the Word

  Isaiah 63,64; Psalms 107; John 2   “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:4 It is an interesting contrast - we wait and God acts. This is not a passive waiting, but an active, expectant waiting on God. Waiters, whom we consider to be excellent, are attentive to the needs of those on whom they are waiting, even to anticipating their needs. Would we position ourselves in this way in the presence of the Lord? God’s activity on our behalf precedes our awareness of our need. We don’t need to get God’s attention, we have it. What we need is to surrender our agenda and our need to God with the awareness that he loves us and is already ahead of us on the issue.   Will we wait on God, keep our eyes on him, and thank him for his gracious presence? Those who wait, see God act. “Lord Jesus, my eyes are on you. Thank you for the many ways you are acting on my behalf, e...

  Isaiah 60-62; John 1   “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you…the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light…” Isaiah 60:1-3 “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world…We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:9, 14 The presence of God, like light, always attracts. God’s presence is full of grace and truth: grace which loves us unconditionally and offers us forgiveness for our sin and rebellion, truth which is uncompromising in exposing our sin and the true nature of our motives and heart, and loving, penetrating light that draws us to God. As we witness to the effect of that light in our lives, others are drawn to the light of Christ. Nations are coming to the light of God’s presence. People that have lived in darkness for many generations are finding Christ’s healing, releasing, and empowerin...

    Isaiah 57-59; Psalms 103; 2 Peter 3 “…from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children – with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.” Psalm 103:17, 18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!   Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 There are amazing benefits to a covenant relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. David spoke of God’s love and righteousness as a heritage that we can pass on to our grandchildren if we keep covenant with God and obey his precepts; however, we know that David’s grandson rebelled against God and split the kingdom. In the new covenant through Jesus, we can experience amazing peace, grace, and favor with God that impacts our family and succeeding generations. Our covenant with Jesus also invites ongoing growth in the knowledge of who Jesus is. Let us not rely on a thirty-year commitment, ...

Isaiah 53-56; 2 Peter 2   “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer…After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied…For your Maker is your husband – the Lord Almighty is his name…he is called the God of all the earth…my unfailing love for you will not be shaken   nor my covenant of peace be removed…Listen, Listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare…my house will be called a house of prayers for all nations.” Isaiah 53:10, 11; 54:5, 10; 55:2; 56:7 God’s plan of salvation for all nations was prophesied by Isaiah hundreds of years before Jesus proclaimed and fulfilled this prophecy. God’s salvation plan was focused on a suffering servant, his Son, who would take upon himself the sins of the world and pay the ultimate price to redeem humanity. Why? God wants relationship with those who respond to his offer of salvation. Relationship, like a husband to his bride, is a covenant of peace...

  Isaiah 50-52; Psalms 92; 2 Peter 1   “The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God…so he will sprinkle many nations and kings will shut their mouths because of him…Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Isaiah 52:10, 15; 53:1 God’s revelation of his salvation plan for the nations came in a way no one expected. When God lays bare his holy arm, we all expect a repeat of the exodus from Egypt – amazing miracles and dramatic demonstrations of power, fire, and smoke. But God’s salvation plan for men and women everywhere was to send his Son in the form of frail humanity. Jesus came to “sprinkle many nations” with his atoning blood. The holy arm of God was revealed in a suffering servant who took our sins upon himself and died in our place as our atoning sacrifice.   If we are to proclaim this salvation message to the nations so they actually see it...

Isaiah 46-49; 1 Peter 5 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’…Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:2, 5, 7 The two main under-miners of leadership health in this text are pride and fear. Using positional authority to control others or for personal gain grieves God. People belong to God, not to us. We serve under Christ’s authority and he invites us to lead with the same humility with which he leads. God hates pride and opposes it, but he gives grace to the humble. Servant leadership wins the trust and devotion of those we are leading because we place their interests first. Fear and anxiety take our eyes off of Jesus and place them on others or ourselves. Fear causes us to try to control people and outcomes so we won’t fail, or be disappointed, or hurt. God cares for you; don’t fear. He holds whatever it is that you a...

  Isaiah 43-45; 1 Peter 4 “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7, 8 The end of the game usually brings a renewed focus on the most essential things and the most effective strategies. Players often listen well, perform at higher levels, and use their time efficiently because the end of the game is approaching. What about life and God’s eternal purposes? When Peter said the end of all things is near, he was indicating that a sense of urgency related to Christ’s return is a reality that should change how we live. Our character matters so we must be clear-minded and self-controlled. Our prayer life connects us to God who desires to give us resources, perspective, and direction. Along with the essential priority of unbroken prayer, is the character value of love which is deep, forgiving, and our unifying power. When every moment count...

Isaiah 40-42; 1 Peter 3   “‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear;   I will help you. Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you,’ declares the Lord.” Isaiah 41:10, 13, 14 The promises of God to Joshua, to Hezekiah, and to others, were that his hand was upon them and they were not to fear, or be dismayed, or discouraged, for he would strengthen and help them. These promises are available to all of God’s people through his Spirit. We might be weak and seemingly insignificant and feel as small as a worm, but God takes us by the hand and pledges his strength and courage for us. We will never be alone. The choice is ours. Do we want to live in independence from God, utilizing our own strength, or will we humble ourselves under the hand of Go...

2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38,39; Psalms 75; 1 Peter 2 “And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. ‘The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,’ Hezekiah replied. For he thought, ‘There will be peace and security in my lifetime.’” Isaiah 39:7, 8 God’s judgment of Hezekiah’s naïve invitation to the enemies of God to see all of his treasures and secrets was significant. Hezekiah’s own descendants would become slaves of Babylon. Hezekiah’s response was puzzling. He accepted God’s judgment of his sin, but without repenting. Yet earlier, when he had become sick to the point of death, also as a judgment of sin, Hezekiah cried out to God for a change of heart and a different outcome.   Why did he humble himself when God’s judgment of sin was personally costly, yet not humble himself when God’s judgment involved future generations? Is our response to sin also that selfish a...

Isaiah 36,37; Psalms 76; 1 Peter 1   “Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained…He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.” Psalm 76:10, 12 Throughout history, God’s dealings with the kings of the earth have been a story of men being humbled for God’s kingdom purposes. The rebuke, and then the destruction of the king of Assyria are recorded in Kings, Chronicles, and Isaiah, because they are important. God hates pride and opposes the proud. When leaders reject God’s mercy and grace, they face God’s discipline and wrath. Leaders face a higher standard of behavior because they set the example for those they lead. God’s desire is that leaders would live with the healthy fear of the Lord and a surrendered spirit. When authority is submitted to God, much good can be accomplished. When authority is in rebellion against God, many people are led astray. For that reason we are urged to pray for those in author...

2 Kings 18,19; 2 Chronicles 32; James 5 “After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib, king of Assyria came and invaded Judah…[Hezekiah] encouraged them with these words: ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.’” 2 Chronicles 32:1, 6-8 From the time God spoke those words to Joshua and he prepared to enter the Promised Land, the call, “be strong and courageous…Do not be afraid or discouraged” has continued to give boldness and perspective to God’s people. Hezekiah reminded his military officers that God’s presence was with them. Our faithfulness to God doesn’t provide immunity from spiritual attacks or challenging tests. However, in the midst of tests we have an opportunity to declare our dependency on the Lord God and encourage the faith of ...

  2 Chronicles 29-31; James 4 “Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years…In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them…‘Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord…Remove all defilement…Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord…’” 2 Chronicles 29:1, 3, 5, 10 Authority is too valuable a resource to be squandered with selfish motives. Hezekiah’s father Ahaz was very wicked and stopped worship in the temple. Hezekiah could have followed his father’s example; instead, he humbled himself before God. His first decisions as a new king were to restore worship to the Lord God, consecrate leadership among the priests, and renew the covenant between Israel (Judah) and God. All of this he accomplished in the first year (month) of his rule.   How are we stewarding the authority that God has given us? Are there decisi...

2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 28; Psalms 46; James 3   “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…” Psalm 46:1, 2 What refuge is really trustworthy when our world is collapsing around us? Civil wars have spread from country to country; natural disasters have wrecked cities and regions; economic downturns have cost people their life savings. In the midst of these calamities, God’s invitation continues for us to find our refuge and strength in him. He has promised to be an ever-present help in trouble. God’s Spirit fills those who give their lives for him. God’s angels surround those who belong to God’s kingdom. In the midst of uncertainty, or even disaster, God’s people respond out of hope and love because God is with them. Why wait for a crisis to call out to God? We can find his strength in his presence today if we call out to him and give him our lives. “Lord J...

  Isaiah 32-35; James 2   “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there…But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads…” Isaiah 35:8-10 The highway of holiness is only accessible for ransomed and redeemed people who have been saved from the bondage and penalty of sin and self by the blood of Jesus. There is a place of protection and grace where the enemy cannot disturb us as we walk with Jesus on this highway to heaven. Are we experiencing this place of immunity from fear and the attacks of the enemy? Our destiny is Zion, a place of great joy. We sing now because our hearts are already anticipating this place. Even now, our lives are full of joy as we anticipate what is to come, and as we enjoy our freedom in Ch...

Isaiah 29-31; James 1   “…get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:21, 22 With the abundance of good teaching, books, sermons, and audio files available and accessible to everyone, particularly those in the West, our challenge becomes not about knowing the truth, but rather, obeying the truth. We know far more than we are applying, or obeying. If we continue to define and limit church to a one hour listening exercise on Sunday, we will deceive ourselves into thinking we are growing in maturity and Christ-likeness. To live on mission with Jesus requires that we rid ourselves of immoral entertainment and anything else that grieves the Holy Spirit, and that we humble ourselves through daily listening to and obeying God’s Word and Spirit. The Spirit of God within us will lead us into obedience and mission each day if w...

Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13 “As a woman with child and about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, O Lord. We were with child, we writhed in pain, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth; we have not given birth to people of the world.” Isaiah 26:17, 18 God’s purpose for Israel was that they would be his holy nation, a witness to the world of God’s salvation. However, Israel’s pride distracted her from this global mission; she became more focused on her own self-righteousness than on the salvation of the nations. This same self-absorption has been distracting the church from her mission in the new covenant to make disciples of all nations. Intercession without a missional strategy will give birth to “wind”. The peoples of the world are looking for life and salvation that no government, no education, and no amount of money can provide. Jesus Christ alone offers salvation and a relationship with God. He invites his people...

Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12   “‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves’…Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons…God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness…it [discipline] produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those have have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12: 5-7, 10, 11 Discipline is a process that produces character and a faith-filled life that is pleasing to God. Avoiding discipline, or rigorous training in God’s ways which includes correction, will limit our fruit-bearing capacity. Where have we “made light” of God’s discipline, or avoided it in our lives? Where have we resisted God’s correction, rather than embraced it? In the race, or climb of faith, discipline is an essential value for those who finish well. “Lord Jesus, thank you for your discipline. I embrace your loving discipline as essential for your call on my life and fo...

  Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11   “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger…” Hebrews 11:24-27 The cost of leaving Egypt and the pleasures and bondages of sin is great. Will we sacrifice reputation, pleasure, treasure, and acceptance for the sake of Christ? What “Egypt” is God calling us to walk away from? Moses understood he was created for a greater destiny than his own happiness. What would motivate us to make similar decisions - to leave the ‘Egypts’ of our lives? When we “look ahead” to determine value in life, how far ahead are we looking? Investors speak of “short term” and “long term” gains for investing. What about eternal...

  Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10   “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised…‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.’…” Hebrews 10:36, 9 The will of God in our lives requires perseverance. The promises of God are real and available to those who will combine them with faith and obedience. The will of God is that we will possess his promises and receive the fullness of our inheritance in Christ’s kingdom. Jesus came to do the will of his Father. For those of us who have experienced salvation and new life in Christ, we too must persevere in our salvation and the fruit of that salvation, which is living for the will of our heavenly Father. Are we persevering in the daily obedience of living for the will of God? Are we clear about why we are alive and what our purpose in life really is? “Lord Jesus, you are my life and my example of living each day for the will of our Father. I too desire to receive what you have promised.”

Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9 “The spirit of the Lord will rest on him…He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth…The wolf will live with the lamb…” Isaiah 11:2-4, 6 The kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Jesus said his kingdom was not of this earth, but Christians have been trying to prove him wrong ever since. So much of what we value comes from what we see and hear and can physically experience. Jesus calls us to fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. What would change in our priorities if our standards of value were faith, hope, and love? How would our decisions change if they were motivated by righteousness and justice? The fullness of Christ’s k...

    Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8   “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end…” Isaiah 9:6, 7 Jesus, the Prince of Peace, offers his peace-plan now to the nations of the earth. Surrender your pride and sinful practices to me. Renounce your covenants with the powers of darkness. Turn to me and live. My kingdom is an everlasting kingdom marked by peace and righteousness. There are positions and responsibilities in Christ’s kingdom that extend his government among the nations. Jesus is a King, a Judge, and a Lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22), whose kingdom is coming and will come, and whose will is being done on earth as it is in heaven. Those of us who are citizens of Christ’s kingdom are often confused as to our primary loyalty, our primary identity, and our mission. We minimize the ...

Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7   “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace.” Micah 5:4, 5a “…because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him…” Hebrews 7:24, 25 Peace is not found in the absence of conflict, or on a piece of paper. Peace is found in a person named Jesus Christ. Peace begins in our hearts as we surrender to our Creator God and receive the mercy and forgiveness he offers to us through Jesus. Jesus continues to stand as our peace-pledge before the King of kings, and he makes intercession for us. Filled with his peace, we too become ambassadors of God’s peace plan and ministers of reconciliation. Without the reconciling work of Jesus on the cross, there is no language for peace between people and nations, nor ...

  Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6   “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instructions about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” Hebrews 6:1, 2 Foundations are essential for the health and strength of all that is built upon them. Before a foundation can be laid, the design of the building must be known. The foundation of Christ provides a strong, deep, and secure foundation for any calling, purpose, or life in the kingdom of God. The elementary teachings about Christ are rooted in the Old Testament and the sacrificial requirements, feasts, and temple worship. Christ is the fulfillment of those forms and requirements. For those without a good understanding of this, Christ as our cornerstone will not be properly laid. Repentance, faith, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection, and eternal judgme...

  Hosea 13,14; Psalms 100,102; Hebrews 5     “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered…solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:7, 8, 14 The process of growing in maturity is much more than knowledge and life experience. Maturity in Christ’s kingdom comes from learning to distinguish good from evil, and then learning obedience and submission to that which is good, while resisting and avoiding that which is evil. The surrender of our will to God’s will is a core discipleship key that distinguishes those who grow in maturity, from those who plateau, or even regress, in their spiritual growth. Jesus’ intense agony in prayer prior to the cross was the battle of ongoing surrender to t...

  Hosea 10-12; Psalms 73; Hebrews 4     “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden in God’s sight…to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God…Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:12-14, 16 The Word of God speaks truth to our lives: truth about who we really are apart from God, and truth about the state of our hearts. This exposing, penetrating, and judging work of God’s living Word is essential to convict us of sin and of our need of God. There is no place to hide from God; we must give an account for our lives, our choices, and our actions. If this were the end of the story, we would have no hop...

Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3     “…‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert…But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:7, 8, 13 The hardening of our hearts toward God is a choice we make in response to hearing his voice. The testing that God allows in our lives is meant to humble us, that we might seek him and live. God’s testing is not meant to discourage or destroy us, but rather to expose our deep need of him. We each need encouragement to seek the Lord and to respond to the slightest promptings of his Spirit. We need encouragement to listen to God’s Spirit and Word in ways that move us in the direction of his ways and his mission. When we either ignore God’s voice in our lives, or listen selectively, we are easily deceived by sin. A hardened heart is vulnerable to temptation and spiritual deception. The Ho...

Hosea 2-5; Hebrews 2   “I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one called ‘Not my loved one. I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’   ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” Hosea 2:23 In writing his salvation story, God in Christ has pursued and revealed himself throughout history to people who have been bound by idols, false gods, and superstitions. God has humbled himself in Christ to take on the sins of our rebellion against him, our unfaithfulness, and our rejection; Christ has reconciled us back into relationship with our loving God. Like prodigals, we are returning to the house of our Father. The house of our Father has sons and daughters from many different cultural and ethnic groups, religious backgrounds, and beliefs, and who have all found salvation, forgiveness, and reconciliation with the Father through Jesus Christ. It is the Father who plants salvation in our hearts, who extends his love to us through Christ, ...

  2 Kings 15,16; Hosea 1; 1 Hebrews 1     “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.   You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” Hebrews 1:3, 9 Who is Jesus Christ? He is God in the flesh, full of glory, powerful in word and deed. Jesus provided purification for our sins through his death; he defeated sin and death through his resurrection. It was Jesus’ love for righteousness and hatred of wickedness that were rewarded with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and expressed with joy. Is that same anointing of joy possible today for God’s sons and daughters who love righteousness and hate wickedness? When we pray for more joy, the path might begin earlier through cleansing and refocusing our hearts. “Lord Jesus, you are my salvation, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”

Isaiah 6,7; 2 Chronicles 26,27; Philemon   “…Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” Isaiah 6:8 God’s mission becomes our mission when we say, “Yes!”. God is both singular and plural in his nature. We serve one God, the Lord God Almighty, Creator of all things. This one God has revealed himself to us as the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. When we “go” in obedience to God’s invitation and call, we go in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the Divine ‘US’. God’s mission-invitation is to share and live his reconciling gospel with all creation. We must each give God our answer. To not respond to this question, “Who will go for us?” is to answer, “No!”. Our free will is God’s gift to us.   Will we give this gift of choice back to God and say, “Yes!”? Will we offer our life back to our Creator who gave us his only Son? “Father God, I give myself to you and your mission purposes, for your glory.”

Isaiah 4,5; Psalms 115,116; Jude   “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy…” Jude 24 “Be at rest once more, o my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, o Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 116:7-9 We have been saved by grace and it is grace alone that will keep us until we meet the Lord face to face. It is God’s grace that convicts us of sin to keep us from stumbling. It is God’s grace that exposes repetitive sin so that we will not fall and shipwreck our faith. It is God’s grace that will present us before the throne of God “without fault and with great joy”. As we receive God’s grace and rely on it each day, our response to God is gratitude and a surrendered will. We must choose each day to walk before the Lord in discipleship and obedience and to walk in the light of Hi...