Faith to Obey God

DAY 2: The Command Before the Promise

SCRIPTURE

“While they were sitting at the table, the word of the Lord came to the old prophet who had brought him back. He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you.  You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.’”

When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him.  As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying on the road, with both the donkey and the lion standing beside it.”

1 Kings 13: 20-24 NIV

It was the old prophet who called himself by the same name that led the man of God astray. It was also the old prophet who quickly condemned the man of God for not obeying God’s word. The same people who call you their tribe will condemn you for following their path. In the preceding verses, the man of God readily refused the Kings invitation because he knew God was against him. (1 Kings 12: 8) But how much more difficult is it to condemn the word of a familiar friend?

In my single season, I am constantly receiving messages from other believers, friends, family, music, television—you name it—that love, marriage, and sex have no order. My friends encourage me to try the latest app that their best friend or co-worker used to find love.  This message conflicts with the word God has given me.  

These influences are often from people who are working through a similar season as you and I. We don’t always need to know their intentions, but we must be in tune with what God expects of us. The man of God was commanded not to go back down the path he came. When God points out that our path is wrong, we should be obedient. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What influences in your life are interfering with the word of God?

2. What can you do to prepare yourself to cast down any influences opposing what God has commanded of you?