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OBEDIENCE AND ANSWER TO PRAYER
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
1 John 3:22-24
Matthew 12:50
 
“For whosoever shall do the will of my
Father which is in heaven, the same is
my brother, and sister, and mother.”
 
OBEDIENCE AND ANSWER TO PRAYER
 
God’s answer to prayer is conditional. He does everything according to His eternal will. Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer that we pray for the will of God to be done. When individuals are doing God’s will they are naturally led to keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. The Psalmist said, “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry” (Ps 34:15). God bestows the grace of righteousness and listens to those who call on Him.
 
From the human point of view, before prayers can be answered, certain conditions need to be fulfilled. But everything goes back to God’s sovereign will. When Samuel told Eli the Lord’s message, it was unpleasant news. But Eli responded that He was the Lord and he would let Him do what it seemed good to Him. He knew that there was nothing he could do to change His will.
 
In today’s text, God’s will is thus stated, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” This is the primary requirement for the Christian. It is the Holy Spirit that leads believers to make that confession about the Son of God. There is mutual fellowship with Jesus Christ when we keep His commandments. John added that we know that He abides in us by the Spirit which He has given to us.
 
Early in the gospels the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples. John was one of them. When the Lord told them that He was going to make them fishers of men, they surrendered to follow Jesus. Many of them did not have a place they could call home. The ministry before them was their priority. They obeyed and saw God’s answer.
 
THOUGHT: Humble obedience comes with blessings from the Lord.
PRAYER: Lord, may I always submit to Thy holy will.

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