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The Blessings of Obedience & The Power of Jesus · UCT Youth Daily Devotion

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  Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and welcome to another episode
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  of the United Church of Tonga Youth Devotion.
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  The Bible readings for today is taken from the book of Leviticus chapter 26 verse 12.
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  I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
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  And also Mark 2 verse 5, it says, When Jesus saw their face,
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  he said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven.
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  Our theme, blessings of obedience and the power of Jesus.
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  In Leviticus 26, God tells his people, If you obey me, I will bless you.
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  He promises to walk with us and take care of us, but he also warns,
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  if we ignore him, life will be harder.
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  An analogy of getting ready for church on Sunday.
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  Every Tongan family knows that Sunday morning is serious business.
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  You wake up early, iron your tupenu, polish your shoes and make sure your hair is neat.
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  Your parents probably remind you a hundred times, don't be late.
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  Have you got your Bible? Where's your envelope for the offering?
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  Everything must be ready before church starts.
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  Now, imagine if you wake up late, you rush to get dressed, can't find your other
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  shoe, your hair is a mess, and by the time you're ready, your family has already left.
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  You missed church because you weren't prepared.
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  Our faith works the same way. If we prepare our hearts daily and obey God,
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  we will always be ready for his blessings.
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  If we ignore him and only remember him when there is a problem,
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  we'll struggle, just like someone unprepared for Sunday church.
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  In Mark 2, the paralyzed man had good friends who made sure he got to Jesus.
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  They didn't let obstacles stop them.
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  They even broke through a roof to get him to Jesus.
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  And because of their faith, Jesus forgave him and healed him.
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  So what does this mean for us?
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  Number one, obedience brings blessings.
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  Just like preparing for church, if we walk with God daily, we will see his favor in our lives.
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  Number two, Faith makes a difference.
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  The paralyzed man's friends didn't give up.
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  Are we surrounding ourselves with people who help us get closer to Jesus?
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  Number three, Jesus cares about our hearts first.
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  Before anything else, he wants us to be spiritually prepared.
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  The challenge for today, Are you prepared?
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  Are you preparing your heart for God every day?
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  Or are you only rushing to him when there is a problem?
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  Let us pray. Lord, help us to prepare our hearts daily, just like we prepare for Sunday church.
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  Teach us to walk with you and surround ourselves with people who bring us closer to you.
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  In Jesus' name, amen.