Category Archives: Obedience

Bringing Down Giant Walls & Giant Men

Posted on April 22, 2021 by russellmckinney

In a devotion entitled “Spiritual Battles,” Ed Young Sr. uses Israel’s defeat of the walled city of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-27) as an illustration of how we Christians must overcome our own strongholds if we want to enjoy all the blessings … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adversity, Dying To Self, Faith, God's Omnipotence, God's Sovereignty, God's Work, Obedience, Prayer Requests, Problems, Spiritual Warfare, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

So-So

Posted on March 29, 2021 by russellmckinney

In Jones county, Mississippi, there is a little town called Soso. There are different stories regarding how the town got its name. One says that an early settler of the area used to always reply, “So-so” whenever someone asked him … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Christ's Death, Complaining, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Holiness, God's Love, God's Mercy, God's Work, Grace, Ministry, Obedience, Perseverance, Priorities, Repentance, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sanctification, Service, Suffering, Thankfulness | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

For Such a Time as This

Posted on January 13, 2021 by russellmckinney

“…Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, N.K.J.V.) The book of Esther opens up with Esther, Mordecai, and their fellow Jews living under the rule of the Persians. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Obedience, Service | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Does God Lead Us Along Routes That Don’t Make Sense?

Posted on November 9, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #10) God had to use unprecedented plagues, ten of them, to get Pharaoh to release the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage. At last, however, Pharaoh did relent. The Israelites’ departure from Egypt was sudden … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Commitment, Courage, Decisions, Doubt, Dying To Self, Faith, God's Will, Leadership, Obedience, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Service, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Will God Make You Do His Will?

Posted on November 6, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #9) God reigns as sovereign over all His creation. However, He does not exercise His sovereignty in a way that forces people to do what He wants them to do. Instead, He wants people … Continue reading →

Posted in Disobedience, God's Chastening, God's Wrath, God's Judgment, God's Will, Obedience, Rebellion, Submission | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Does Doing God’s Will Sometimes Make Situations Harder?

Posted on November 2, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #7) God got Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of their Egyptian bondage, but getting Moses to step into that role took some doing. First, God had to answer all … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Criticism, Disappointment, Doing Good, Doubt, God's Will, Leadership, Ministry, Obedience, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal, Problems, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Service, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Does God Accept Excuses?

Posted on October 30, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #6) Forty years had passed since Moses had killed an Egyptian taskmaster, fled from Egypt, and settled down in Midian. His Pharaoh grandfather, the one who had sought his death for killing that taskmaster, … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Courage, Decisions, Discipleship, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Leadership, Ministry, Obedience, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Service, Submission | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Does God Call the Qualified or Qualify the Called?

Posted on October 28, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #5) In a very real sense, Moses was uniquely qualified to be the man through whom God would deliver the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage. For one thing, he was an Egyptian by upbringing … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons, Discipleship, God's Provision, God's Work, Individuality, Ministry, Obedience, Preaching, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s Your Excuse?

Posted on September 7, 2020 by russellmckinney

Excuses are a dime a dozen, right? So, I thought I’d share a few “excuses” stories with you. Here we go. Story #1: Mrs. Smith gave her class of high school students the assignment of writing a term paper that … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Decisions, Disobedience, Doing Good, Dying To Self, God's Will, Lying, Obedience, Pastors, Rebellion, Sin, Submission | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Two Fascinating Teachings From Jesus

Posted on August 21, 2020 by russellmckinney

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Coming Judgment, Dying To Self, Eternity, Faith, God's Wrath, God's Judgment, God's Will, Good Works, Grace, Heaven, Hell, Obedience, Salvation, Submission | Leave a comment