Week 2: Anchored in the Word
Day 13 — Obedience to God’s Word
Scripture Reading:
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22 NIV
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
John 14:23 NIV
““Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.””
Luke 6:46-49 NIV
Devotional Thought
We’ve learned some things this week but like all knowledge, it doesn’t really matter if we don’t put it into practice. Following Jesus isn’t just about hearing God’s Word — it’s about acting on it. James tells us not to be merely listeners, but doers of the Word. Obedience is a strong word; it's where truth becomes transformation. It’s where faith becomes real. It isn’t about earning God’s love. It’s a response to it.
Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” Obedience flows from relationships, not from pressure or fear. When God speaks through Scripture, He isn’t giving rules to weigh you down — He’s giving you a path that leads to life, freedom, and peace. Think about it this way. What if obedience was not centered on a stern demand but a loving invitation? The life God is calling us to is one where we obey His word and it opens the door to a life that is filled with more than we can ask or imagine. In Luke 6, Jesus describes two builders: one who hears His words and puts them into practice, and one who hears but does nothing. Only one house stands when the storms come. Obedience anchors us to this type of life that can weather any storm that comes our way. Obedience anchors your life. It forms spiritual stability. It strengthens your foundation long before the storms arrive.
With God, progress is the goal, not perfection. You won’t obey perfectly — no one does. But every simple act of obedience creates space for God’s life to grow in you. Today, take one small step in response to something God has already shown you.
Practice for Today
Ask God:
“What is one simple step of obedience You're inviting me to take today?”
Write it down — and take that step.
Reflection Questions
What part of God’s Word is He asking you to live out in a practical way today?
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22 NIV
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
John 14:23 NIV
““Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.””
Luke 6:46-49 NIV
Devotional Thought
We’ve learned some things this week but like all knowledge, it doesn’t really matter if we don’t put it into practice. Following Jesus isn’t just about hearing God’s Word — it’s about acting on it. James tells us not to be merely listeners, but doers of the Word. Obedience is a strong word; it's where truth becomes transformation. It’s where faith becomes real. It isn’t about earning God’s love. It’s a response to it.
Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” Obedience flows from relationships, not from pressure or fear. When God speaks through Scripture, He isn’t giving rules to weigh you down — He’s giving you a path that leads to life, freedom, and peace. Think about it this way. What if obedience was not centered on a stern demand but a loving invitation? The life God is calling us to is one where we obey His word and it opens the door to a life that is filled with more than we can ask or imagine. In Luke 6, Jesus describes two builders: one who hears His words and puts them into practice, and one who hears but does nothing. Only one house stands when the storms come. Obedience anchors us to this type of life that can weather any storm that comes our way. Obedience anchors your life. It forms spiritual stability. It strengthens your foundation long before the storms arrive.
With God, progress is the goal, not perfection. You won’t obey perfectly — no one does. But every simple act of obedience creates space for God’s life to grow in you. Today, take one small step in response to something God has already shown you.
Practice for Today
Ask God:
“What is one simple step of obedience You're inviting me to take today?”
Write it down — and take that step.
Reflection Questions
What part of God’s Word is He asking you to live out in a practical way today?