SCRIPTURE:
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13, NIV)

Observations:
I asked what is 'therefore' in response to?
I was reminded that the ‘therefore’ is in response to what I learned in yesterday’s devotional time on the topic N.A.M.E.

I asked myself what is the cause-effect relationship here?
Because of the power of the NAME OF JESUS, the Philippians were told 3 things:
1. As you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence.
2. continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling
3. for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Interpretation:
I asked myself what is the significance of the verse, 'As you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence?'
Obedience is not limited to Paul being there with them. Paul wants the Philippians to be much more obedient when he is not there with them. Their obedience should be as a result of the Name of Jesus instead of whether Paul is with them or not, whether Paul sees them or not, and whether Paul hears about them or not.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. My obedience in life should be a result of my relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. At the Name of Jesus, there should be nothing but obedience but obedience out of love instead of fear. Jesus elicits this kind of response. Jesus says, 'If you love me, you will obey me'. I want Jesus to be able to say to the Father, that Ramesh loves me because he obeys me.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING OBEDIENCE:
Yesterday, I was talking to CHANDRA and she asked me to watch 10 Telugu movies because she really liked them and hoped I would like them. After she listed the movies to me, I told her, "Chandra, do you remember what I told you about movies? I only like ACTION movies and all the movies you gave me are ROMANCE movies. They are love stories! I don't like pure love stories but for your sake I will watch all of them." Yesterday, I watched the first one called 'Varsham' and surprisingly enjoyed it. To my surprise, it was an ACTION-ROMANCE movie. I obeyed what she asked me to do and was blessed at the same time. Pastor Hugo just reminded the congregations of PCCO & OIF that when we love God and others, we make COMMITMENT to bless others a priority over CONVENIENCE. I know Chandra, will be blessed knowing that I care for her enough that I sacrificed my sleep to watch the movie since that was the only time I had. Speaking of COMMITMENT over CONVENIENCE, I invite all those reading this to come to our Summer Night of Prayer and Worship at Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland and Oakland International Fellowship today from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. It is located on North Dithridge St. in Oakland!

I share this with you because when we love someone or care about someone deeply, we will want to obey them even if it does not appeal to us. This is a choice I made even when I felt what if it will be a waste of my time and I don't enjoy the movie. For her sake I did it.

This again addresses Philippians 3 about not having selfish-ambition and vain conceit but in humility thinking about others better than ourselves, not being interested in our own interests but also to the interests of others.

If I am so willing to obey watching love stories that I figured I won't like without action in them, how much more I should want to obey Jesus Christ who loves me so much and gave Himself up for me. Thank you Jesus so much!

I love the words to the song: 'How Great, How Strong' and must have listened to them at least 33+ times. That's Jesus' love for me. I heard it for the first time at Vacation Bible School 2009 held at Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland and Oakland International Fellowship.

"How Great, How Strong, God's love goes on and on and on. This gift we share with the world who needs Him. His love is always, His love is always, His love is always there. He sent His only Son to save us! Only His great love can change us.  He would give everything for He loves us more than anything! How Great, How Strong, God's love goes on and on and on. This gift we share with the world who needs it. How Great, How Strong, God's love goes on and on and on. This gift we share with the world who needs it. His love is always, His love is always, His love is always there!"

There are a lot of things I love to do but don't do them because of my desire to exhibit obedience before my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because He loved me first. His love for me prompts my love for Jesus and makes me want to obey Jesus. Sadly, it has not always been that way. I say I love Jesus but my actions don't always prove that.

On the contrary, my flesh takes over at times like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. My flesh and spirit always battle each other for dominion over my actions. I give in both ways but one way brings sadness and even grief to those around me. That happens when I give in to the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit which will help me obey my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I want to obey Jesus always in my spirit but my flesh wars against that. I thank Jesus so much as written in Romans 7 that He has provided a way out for me and that way is beautifully illustrated in Romans 8.

I can be obedient to the Word of God whether people see me or not because of His love for me and His work in my life. I decided to look more on this topic later. For now, I am so thankful that obedience is something I can exhibit not out of impulse but to show my love to Jesus as His grace works in my life to transform me and sanctify me daily. Praise the Lord.

This verse applies to me even in my home, job, church, etc. I should not shirk from being obedient to God's Word when people are not looking. If anything, I should display the same act of obedience always in Christ depending on Him who will give me the strength! Help me Jesus. You can too!

I ask you now dear friend, what's the point of O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E in life?
Dear friend, the point of obedience in life is not to get something in return. We obey because of the Name of Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, there is power. The Name of Jesus gives reasons to obey. The greatest reason to obey is because of what Jesus Christ did for us at the cross of Calvary by shedding His precious cleansing blood to redeem us. Jesus who had no sin became sin for us because of how much He loves us enough to ransom us. That reason alone should make us want to obey Jesus because He loves us and we love Him.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His dear children!" (1 John 3:1, NASB)

Anyone who loves someone or deeply cares for someone will make it a point to obey them because they know that obedience will make the other person happy and also feel loved.

If we say we love someone and don't obey them for our selfish reasons, is it really true love?

The point of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ is to show the Lord that we love Him.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." (John 14:15, 23-24, NASB)

"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." (John 15:10, NASB)

The point of obedience to others in our lives should also be to show we love them as long as that obedience does not conflict with the Word of God. We can love because of God's work in our lives. Jesus gave up everything for us and knowing that alone should be the point of obedience. 

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word." (John 17:6, NIV)

The love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Word should be the true reason for obedience knowing when God wants us to obey His Word, it is for our own good. He created us and knows everything about us.

When you buy something new, it is usually the case that you refer to the instruction manual on how to operate the product. You obey the instructions to produce the result you want in the product. If you decided to buy a product and assemble it your own way, what would usually happen! Usually, things do not go well and you would have wished, "I wish, I followed the directions more closely"

Think about it! In the same way, we have be given an instruction manual how to operate our lives.  It is called the Bible, the Word of God. The point of obedience is because He who created us also knows everything about us and has given us His manual for our successful abundant living. It starts with Jesus Christ. It is for our own good!

We however cannot obey the Word of God without God's Spirit working in us and through us. It is His Spirit that helps us to obey. I praise the Lord for that. God made it possible when Jesus Christ died for our sins and came back to life to give us a free gift of grace so when we accept it, we will be under the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! Thank you Jesus so much!

We all need Jesus everyday and there will be times we do falter and go our own way. I have done that many times. I have even not followed directions because wanted to do things my way, thinking I can assemble it on my own, do things my way, etc but the results have been destructive.

In the spiritual realm, it is called 'soul sickness' because of human corruption taking over. We are so corrupted and blinded by this sickness, we cannot think or see clearly. We go our own way and do our own things giving disobedience a free pass. Only Jesus Christ can cure this sickness as we yield to Him. Jesus paid the Ultimate price on the Cross of Calvary to provide the antidote for us. 'Soul sickness' is a phrase York Moore of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship uses in his reaching out to the lost with the love of Christ. I heard first about this phrase at Living Acts cell group of Oakland International Fellowship, when Jason and Andrea shared it with Jeremy, Kristen, Josh, Bryan, Lydia, Steve, Zela, Vicki, and me.

Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!  For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” (John 8:42-47, NLT)

The other point of obedience is so we will not be living a destructive life of disobedience by implicitly giving our allegiance to Satan. There is no middle ground. We either obey and belong to Jesus or disobey and belong to Satan. I don't want to belong to Satan and neither should you.  We all need Jesus and Jesus will help us as we surrender our lives to Him and ask Him to sanctify us daily by His grace. I know He will, yes He will! Praise the Lord!

"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, NLT)

May we know obeying beautiful Emmanuel daily involves everyday now Christ emancipation in our lives! Amen!

"Obeying Beautiful Emmanuel Daily Involves Everyday Now Christ's Emancipation!" (O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E)/"What is the point of O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E in life?"

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, NIV)

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!