Daily Prinicples For Godly Living

"So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord’s assembly—I (David) give you (Solomon) this charge. Be careful to obey (listen, observe, study, and follow) all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance. And Solomon, my son, learn to know (acknowledge and accept) the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees (and searches) every heart and knows (understands) every plan and thought. If you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you forsake (reject or turn away from) Him, He will reject you forever. So take this seriously."

1 Chronicles 28:8-10 (NLT).

Here in 1 Chronicles 28:8-10, David gives Solomon principles for godly living to guide him through life. These same principles equally apply to all followers of Jesus Christ. God’s promises to David, confirmed to Solomon, equally apply to Christians today. David instructed his son Solomon that God’s favor depended on Solomon obeying these principles and his wholehearted devotion to and faith in God. David’s message to Solomon and for all people today emphasized the importance of seeking, worshipping and serving the Lord God. David also appealed to Solomon to “be strong and courageous” in trusting God to provide and not to get discouraged (see 1 Chronicles 28:20-21).

Moreover, David instructed Solomon to be careful to obey study and follow all of God's commands. The teachings of Holy Scriptures are the keys to peace, security, joy, happiness, and justice. If we ignore God's teachings and will from the Holy Scriptures, our efforts and resources will fail. In addition, David encouraged Solomon to acknowledge, serve and know God consistently. David knew the importance of complete trust in God’s power, sovereignty, and justice and David knew that God would be faithful to His promises.

God Wants Obedience

What pleases the Lord more: burnt offerings and sacrifices or obedience (listening) to His voice? It is better to obey (listen) than to sacrifice. It is better to listen (and submit) to God than to offer the fat of sheep. Disobedience (or rebellion) is as bad as the sin of sorcery. Pride (or stubbornness) is as bad as the sin of worshiping idols. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NCV).

The Lord God wants total obedience, allegiance and commitment from all people (see e.g., Psalms 40:6-8; Psalm 51:16,17; Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 1:11-17; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 12:7; Mark 12:33; Hebrews 10:8-9). The living God requires His people to obey His Word found in the Holy Bible and to sincerely worship Him as God. 

Besides, God rewards obedience and faithfulness with His blessings (see Deuteronomy 6:1-25; Deuteronomy 11:26-28; Psalm 115:13; Isaiah 30:19-26; 1 Peter 3:9). Obedience and faithfulness to God brings blessings (see Leviticus 26:3-13; Deuteronomy 6:4-11; Deuteronomy 28:1-14), Throughout Old Testament, King David’s faithfulness for God is held up as the model for godly obedience for everyone to follow (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22; see also 1 Kings 14:8). Even more, the Lord Jesus Christ was obedient in all things (Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8; Hebrews 10:5-7).

Nevertheless, disobedience and unfaithfulness to God leads to His punishment, conviction, and judgment (see Leviticus 26:14-39; Numbers 20:12-13; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; 1 Samuel 13:13-14; 1 Samuel 15:13-23). For example, disobedience to God caused the northern kingdom (Israel) to fell, suffer drought (1 Kings 17:1-7), famine (1 Kings 17:12; 18:2), and war (1 Kings 14:30; 1 Kings 15:6-7, 16, 32; 1 Kings 20:1-34; 1 Kings 22:29-36).

God blesses those who have humble, obedient, faithful and repentant hearts (1 Chronicles 29:10-20). The right heart attitude that seeks the Lord God in prayer brings His blessings (1 Corinthians 11:27-32). God is always willing to forgive and heal those who repent. Repentance brings God’s restoration, healing and reconciliation. People who seek and follow Jesus Christ’s obedient example (Philippians 2:12-13) and King David’s obedient example can anticipate God’s fullest and riches blessings (2 Timothy 4:7-8; 1 John 2:24).

Do The Old Testament Apply To Christians?

“And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I [Moses] am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 (NLT).

The Holy Bible has 66 Books (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament). These Books of the Holy Bible are called Canon. The Holy Bible contains the complete the Word of God that He intended for people to have written through the working of the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 4:2; Matthew 15:3-9; John 14:26; 2 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 22:18-19). The Holy Bible primarily reports God’s great acts in redemptive history. There is no need for more words of the Holy Bible after the New Testament because there is finality to the Word of God in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3).

The Holy Bible is more than lists of dos and don’ts. Instead, the Holy Bible is God-breathed and not merely human words. Most important, the Holy Bible gives God’s expectation for all people to obey. If God’s Word is obeyed faithfully, God will bring His richest blessing to His people. Obedience to God’s Word leads to an abundant and meaningful life (Deuteronomy 10:8-9) and reveals God’s grace to the whole world. Our life depends on obeying God’s Word (Deuteronomy 4:1; Deuteronomy 5:16, 32-33). God's Word is designed to guide and lead all people toward life-styles that are beneficial, healthy, decent, honorable, and devoted to God.

God’s Word is embodied most prominently in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21) and the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). All other laws and regulations of God are interpretations and applications of the Ten Commandments and the Shema. The Ten Commandments and the Shema are the heart of God's Word and are just as applicable today as they were over 2000 years ago. Moreover, Jesus Christ also taught His followers to obey the Ten Commandments and the demands of the Shema (see Matthew 22:37-40) as an expression of commitment and love to Him as God (see Matthew 5:17-19; John 14:15-21).

Jesus Christ as God perfectly obeyed the Word of God and modeled the Word’s true intent. If you follow and obey Jesus Christ, you are obeying God’s Word (John 1:1)!

Faith In God

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering Him (Jesus). Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:15-17 (NLT), see parallel references at Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16.

In this story, Jesus teaches that God opens His Kingdom (or heart) to everyone who accepts, welcomes and depends on Him as God. Jesus teaches that entrance into the Kingdom of God requires childlike faith, trust, allegiance and dependence on God and not one’s self-effort, education, sophistication nor riches (see also Luke 18:18-30). 


Jesus welcomed little children because they have the kind of attitude needed to approach God. Little children approached God with attitudes of truth, eagerness, humility, acceptance, dependence, faith, and complete trust in Him for their help and needs. Like little children, we must also approach God (Father, Son-Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) with simple and childlike trust in Him as our God. We do not need to understand all the mysteries of the universe to accept God; it should be enough to know that God loves us and provides forgiveness for our sin. 


Our God promises to provide all our needs. "What is impossible with men is possible with God (Luke 18:27 - NIV)."  With God, all things are possible (see Matthew 19:23-30; Mark 10:23-31). God blesses people who trust and rely on Him (see also Luke 18:28-30).

Jesus Cares For ALL People

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He [the blind man] called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy (pity, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, sympathy) on me!" Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted (and screamed) all the more, "Son of David, have mercy (pity , compassion , kindness, forgiveness, sympathy) on me!" Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to Him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith [your trust and confidence in God] has healed [or saved] you." Immediately [instantly] he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising [and honoring] God [Father, Son-Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit]. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. Luke 18:35-43 (NIV).

The story of Luke 18:35-43 demonstrates Jesus’ care for people, particularly the poor and weak. The Holy Bible is clear that people are to care for one another, especially the needy (Leviticus 25:35-38) and Jesus demonstrated that care for people.

In addition, this blind man demonstrated that faith in Jesus brings blessings. This man repeatedly and shamelessly cried out for Jesus' help, and Jesus said that his faith healed and saved him. No matter what your circumstance or your situation, call out to Jesus (our Messiah and Son of David) in faith for His mercy and He will help you.

P.S., Do not forget to be merciful to others as Jesus is merciful to you (see Matthew 5:7; James 2:13).

Pure Worship

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33 (NKJV).

One of God’s main purposes for His people is that they offer Him worship. From the beginning of time, God has wanted an intimate relationship with His people based upon genuine worship, sincere love and wholehearted faith in Him as God (see Genesis 15:6; Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Romans 3:21). Worship means love, respect, devotion, adoration, admiration, reverence, service and appreciation.

The universe has one true God made up of Three Persons (God the Father, God the Son - Jesus Christ and God the Spirit - Holy Spirit) all people must worship (1 Kings 8:23; see also Deuteronomy 5:-7, 9; John 14:6; 1 Peter 3:15; Acts 4:12). Our worship of God must come from a pure heart that is completely faithful to Him with dedicated service to others as unto to God (1 Kings 15:14; 1 Kings 17:1; see also Deuteronomy 10:12, 20; Psalm 24:3-4; Matthew 4:10; John 4:24). Our daily worship of God should have a sense of God’s omnipresence, knowing He is present to love and help us (1 Kings 8:56; see also Psalm 63:1-3; Philippians 4:4).

All believers of God (Father, Son - Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) are the temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Believers are called to live their lives as a representative or ambassador of God (Matt 5:16; Acts 2:40-47; 2 Corinthians 5:20; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 2:12). We must not let any other god (or idol) take God’s place in our hearts (1 John 5:21). We must all seek God and His Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). To seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness means to turn to God first for help, to seek to please Him as God, to imitate His character and to serve and obey Him in everything.

Seek God First!

One Woman Blessed Her Home

We [the Apostle Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke] boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who [already] worshiped God [or a worshiper of God or a God-fearing woman]. As she listened to us [the Apostle Paul‘s message], the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying [that Jesus is the Messiah and the Author of salvation]. She [Lydia] was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord [Jesus Christ],” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

Acts 16:11-15 (NLT).

Lydia was a God-fearing woman the Apostle Paul met on his second missionary journey. She was a Gentile living in Philippi and a dealer in purple cloth. Purple cloth was valuable and expensive. Purples indicated nobility or royalty. Lydia, like Cornelius (see Acts 10:2) believed in the true God and followed the moral teachings of the Scripture but had not yet heard the full teachings of Jesus Christ. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the minds of Jesus’ disciples were opened to under the Scriptures (see Luke 24:44-45).

The Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey took him to Philippi. Philippi was a key city in the region of Macedonia (northern Greece today). In Philippi, the Apostle Paul met a small group of women by the river having prayer. He preached the Gospel of Jesus to these women, and Lydia, an influential and wealthy businessperson, believed in Jesus Christ. God opened Lydia’ heart to His Scriptures about His Son, Jesus Christ.

Lydia became the first person changed by Jesus Christ in Philippi. Through Lydia’s conversion and belief in Jesus Christ, her entire household was baptized and identified with Jesus Christ (see also Acts 16:32-33). Lydia’s home was now a Christian home and home for the Light of the World, Jesus Christ (John 9:5).

YOUR faith in Jesus Christ can change your home. Will you accept Jesus today?