Category Archives: Obedience

Wandering Around

Posted on October 23, 2026 by russellmckinney

In his daily devotional book, The Believer’s Code, O.S. Hawkins offers an excellent word about sheep. He writes: Have you ever been to a circus? If so, you probably saw an array of trained animals. Huge elephants can be trained … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Commitment, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Eternity, Faithfulness, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Work, Good Works, Heaven, Human Life, Individuality, Influence, Ministry, Obedience, Sacrifice, Sanctification, Service, Submission, Work | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Intersection of Death

Posted on October 21, 2026 by russellmckinney

Imagine a horizontal line running west to east across the center of your computer screen. This line represents your will in a decision. Now imagine a vertical line running north to south right through the center of your screen. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Brokenness, Choices, Christ's Death, Decisions, Desires, Disobedience, Dying To Self, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Work, Obedience, Rebellion, Submission, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dead IN Sin or Dead TO Sin?

Posted on October 15, 2026 by russellmckinney

One little word can make a big difference. A Biblical example of this is found in the salvation experience. The difference is the difference between the words “in” and “to.” Ephesians 2:1-5 and Colossians 2:13 teach that each of us … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Baptism, Belief, Commitment, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Work, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Mirror

Posted on September 23, 2026 by russellmckinney

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Change, Character, Confession, Discernment, God's Will, God's Word, God's Work, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Repentance, Scripture, Sin, The Bible | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Would You Give Up for Jesus?

Posted on September 11, 2026 by russellmckinney

One day a certain ruler, probably a ruler in a local synagogue, came to Jesus with a question. This ruler was young (Matthew 19:20), wealthy (Matthew 19:22), and lived a moral life by striving to keep God’s commandments (Matthew 19:17-20). … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Brokenness, Business, Change, Choices, Commitment, Decisions, Desires, Discipleship, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Will, Greed, Idolatry, Individuality, Money, Obedience, Politics, Priorities, Prosperity, Sacrifice, Service, Sports, Stewardship, Submission | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Christians Bringing a Touch of Christ’s Kingdom to Earth

Posted on September 3, 2026 by russellmckinney

Series: “Christ’s Kingdom” (post #5) Jesus spent His three-and-a-half-year earthly ministry bringing a touch of His heavenly kingdom to the earth. Then, after being crucified, He resurrected and ascended back to heaven. This left a gaping hole in regards to … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Anger, Character, Discernment, Discipleship, Disobedience, Divorce, Divorce & Remarriage, Doing Good, Extending Forgiveness, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Giving, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Word, God's Work, Good Works, Influence, Lust, Marriage, Ministry, Needs, Obedience, Persecution, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Priorities, Prosperity, Reconciliation, Revenge, Reward, Righteousness, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture, Series: "Christ's Kingdom", Service, Temptation, The Bible, The Heart, The Old Testament Law, The Sermon On The Mount, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Does God Want You to Get Out of the Way or Get Involved?

Posted on August 12, 2026 by russellmckinney

Does God want the Christian to stay out of the way and let Him sovereignly bring His will to pass? Or does He want to actually use the Christian to bring that will to pass? The answers to these questions … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Choices, Decisions, Discernment, Discipleship, Dying To Self, God's Omnipotence, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Work, Obedience, Parenting, Prayer, Problems, Service, Submission, The Holy Spirit, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Jonah Path

Posted on August 7, 2026 by russellmckinney

Question: “What is the Bible’s only book that ends with a question?” Answer: “Jonah.” Jonah 4:11 closes the book by way of God asking the prophet Jonah: “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Anger, Backsliding, Church, Church Attendance, Complaining, Contentment, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Honesty, Mercy, Ministry, Missions, Obedience, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer, Preaching, Problems, Rebellion, Service, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Your Druthers

Posted on August 3, 2026 by russellmckinney

Mark Twain featured the characters of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer in multiple books. One of them is Tom Sawyer, Detective. As part of that book’s conversations between Huck and Tom, Huck says, “Any way you druther have it, that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Christ's Death, Commitment, Crucifixion, Decisions, Desires, Discipleship, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Will, God's Work, Individuality, Obedience, Prayer, Sacrifice, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Submission, Talents, Temptation, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Has God Told You Something Lately?

Posted on July 31, 2026 by russellmckinney

Jesus remained completely silent when He stood before Herod Antipas for questioning (Luke 23:6-12). Nothing Antipas said or asked evoked a verbal response from Jesus. What made Christ’s behavior in this instance so strange was the fact that He didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Belief, Choices, Commitment, Conviction, Decisions, Disobedience, God's Wrath, God's Guidance, God's Judgment, God's Will, God's Word, Idolatry, Obedience, Prophecy, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sin, The Bible, The Gospel, Truth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment