Today’s Readings:
Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9
Psalm 147:12-13,15-16,19-20
Matthew 5:17-19
Michael Jordan won six NBA championships, three NBA Most Valuable Player awards, three NBA finals most valuable play awards, made the NBA all-defensive team three times, made the All-NBA team three times and is worth 3 billion USD according to Forbes. His name is associated with Basketball greatness because he mastered the fundamentals of Basketball. To master the fundamentals of any field means you know the rules and you keep them. Someone once said, “If you keep the rules, the rules will keep you”.
Success in any field is not a stroke of luck. You need to be intentional. You need to know what you are doing. Our faith journey is no different. Moses instructed the Israelites on the importance of keeping God’s commands: ‘Keep them, observe them, and they will demonstrate to the peoples your wisdom and understanding. When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, “No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation.”’
Why should we keep God’s commands?
Following God’s commands will establish your excellence and win you favour and admiration.
Keeping God’s commands also arm us with life lessons that we can teach our children and our children’s children.
Without rules and instructions, society is plunged into corruption and mediocrity as we experience today.
Why do we fail to keep the rules?
We are sometimes ignorant of them.
We are stubborn in our devious ways.
We are trying to fit into a society that does not know God.
We are so focused on gaining this world that we lose sight of heaven.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud:
Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I believe and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart, keep me from all evil, and lead me in Your righteous path. Thank You, Lord!
If you said the above short prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest, as the case may be.
Prayer:
May God help me to respond favourably to His commands.
May God’s grace strengthen me to fight against stubborn vices and rely on the mercy of God. Our lives will be better (richer) and our world will flourish when we do what God commands.
Dear Lord, help me treasure Your laws and make them the cornerstone of my life.
Shield me from evil and prosper the works of my hands to the glory of your name. Amen.
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