Follow the Instructions

Today I was reading in Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" and a portion of it really stood out to me: "God will not be tolerated. He instructs us to worship and fear him."

The first thing that stood out to me in this was the word "instruct". It holds two meanings... take a look.

>>instructs- directs or gives orders

Deuteronomy 6:5(Amp) - "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might."

When we as parents give instructions to our children, we expect them to obey. It is the same with God. He instructs us to love him with all that we are. It may not be something we feel like doing at first and it may not even feel real at times, but when we obey He blesses. He becomes real. He becomes life to us.

Read Deuteronomy 11. Blessings for obeying vs. curses for disobeying the instruction to love and obey God.

He has so much for us if we will only seek Him and put Him first... "the land He is giving us"... eternity with Him.


>>instructs- educates or teaches

Isaiah 28:26 (Amplified)- "[And He trains each of them correctly] for his God instructs him and teaches him the right way... All this also come from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom and effectual working."

Read Exodus 6:13 and chapter 7.

God instructs (or commands) Moses and Aaron to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. But He also instructs (teaches) them how do what He is asking of them. They are obedient to do what he commands, He is faithful to show them how and when. And He will do the same with us. Because He is the same yesterday, today and forever.


The second thing that stood out to me was the word "tolerate". This word means to "endure" or "merely put up with". God does not want us to endure him as we would endure some lengthy, boring conference, just waiting until it's over. He doesn't want to be "put up with" as we would with an irritating neighbor. It's about obeying him in his command to love him and not just endure... not just "put up with Him", but to "put Him up" above all- to revere [to regard with respect tinged with awe] Him, to spend time listening to his instruction and follow his ways. He is faithful to lead. He prepares the way for us- the way to the blessing - in life - but ultimately eternity with him.

Today I want to:
Follow His command to love and obey...
Revere Him...
Be taught by Him...
Put Him up for all to see.

Today I will follow THE instructions.


"The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made." Ps. 145:13