I’ve been convicted lately of my tendency to go to God for “special instructions” – a direct word or answer or specific guidance for a particular situation – and expecting Him to answer when I am ignoring many of the very basic instructions He has already given.
A book I read recently put it this way: if we aren’t obeying God’s basic instructions to us, how can we possibly expect Him to give us additional, special instructions? Why should He? What sense is there in thinking we would be obedient to special direction when we ignore basic commands? When was the last time I fed the poor, clothed the naked, or sought another’s wealth instead of my own? Have I blessed my enemies, been a minister of reconciliation, preached the kingdom of heaven from the rooftop, taken no thought for my own needs?
I fall short – painfully, shamefully short of anything like total obedience. I do long to hear the voice of the Father clearly; I do long for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every situation. I believe the first step to living in a place of hearing His voice is living in total obedience to His written word.
The list below is by no means comprehensive and is not ordered in any particular way. It is just a list of the basic commands I have noticed as I’ve been reading through the New Testament again over the past few weeks.
Basic Instructions
- If you remember when you go to worship that a brother has something against you, leave your worship and go and be reconciled, then return to worship.
- When you pray, do not use vain repetitions.
- Be private about your prayer, your fasting, and your giving.
- Take no thought about your food, your clothes, your life, your body.
- Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
- Do not seek your own wealth, but every man seek another’s wealth.
- Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
- Give no offense.
- Do not seek your own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
- Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts.
- Do not look at the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen.
- Be a minister of reconciliation.
- Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
- Abound in giving with liberality.
- Give cheerfully; sow bountifully.
- By love serve one another.
- Forgive one another.
- Accept one another.
- Make reconciliation of offenses.
- Get the beam out of your own eye before you attempt to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
- Lay down your life.
- Abide in Jesus.
- Bear fruit.
- Keep the commandments of Jesus.
- Lose your life for the sake of Jesus.
- Do the will of the Father.
- Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him.
- Confess Jesus before men.
- Endure to the end.
- Take the yoke of Jesus upon you and learn from Him.
- Hear and do the words of Jesus.
- Love Jesus more than father, mother, son, or daughter.
- Follow Jesus.
- Bless those who curse you.
- Do good and pray for your enemies.
- Be a testimony to those who persecute you.
- Do not worry about what to say in response to those you accuse you.
- Do not return evil to evil, but return good.
- Do not resist evil (an evil person).
- Expect to be hated by the world.
- Flee persecution.
- Do not fear those who persecute you.
- Turn the other cheek, go another mile, give more than what is demanded.
- Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
- Speak from the rooftops, preach in the open.
- Preach that the kingdom of heaven has come.
- Do not fear.
- Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils, freely give.
- Do not worry about your provisions.
- Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify God.
- Be like a little child.
- Humble yourself as a child.
- Feed the poor, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the prisoners.
- Do not judge.
- Please God, not men.
- Do not be a hypocrite.
- Do not seek glory from men.
- Ask, seek, and knock.
- Walk worthy of the calling.
- Stand fast in the hope.
- Enter at the straight gate; walk the narrow road.
- Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.
- Do not lay up treasures on earth.
- Do not swear or take an oath; let your Yes mean yes and your No mean no.
- Get rid of what offends you (causes you to stumble).
- Rejoice in suffering.
- Increase and abound in love toward one another.
- Abound in keeping the commandments of Jesus.
- Abstain from fornication.
- Possess your vessel in sanctification and honor.
- Do not defraud your brother.
- Continue in the faith, grounded and settled.
- Do not move away from the hope of the gospel.
- Endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
- Speak the truth in love.
- Teach and admonish one another with songs, hymns, and spiritual songs.
- Put off the old man.
- Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
- Put away lying.
- Do all in the name of Jesus.
- Speak what is good; edify; minister grace to those who hear you.
- Rejoice in the Lord always.
- Walk in wisdom toward unbelievers.
- Redeem the time.
- Seek moderation in all things.
- Be careful (anxious) for nothing.
- Give your requests go God.
- Think on good, honorable, praiseworthy things.
- Be content in any state.
- Seek those things which are above.
- Set your affection on things above.
- Mortify your members on the earth.
- Do not lie.
- Do not steal.
- Work with your hands what is good; give to those in need.