Applying Specific Biblical Commands to Daily Life Prioritization

Prioritizing biblical commands in daily life involves a conscious decision to align one's conduct with God's will, recognizing that Christianity is a practical religion designed to reform hearts and lives, not merely to inform judgments ^[7]. This alignment is often presented as a choice between "life and good" or "death and evil," with love for God and obedience to His will leading to blessings ^[9].

A foundational aspect of this prioritization is seeking God, which is commanded in scripture ^[4]. This includes seeking His name, His word, His face, His strength, His commandments, His precepts, His kingdom, and His righteousness ^[4]. Such seeking should be immediate and involve prayer ^[4]. Prayer itself is a commanded act, to be offered to God, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit, often through Christ ^[3]. God is depicted as hearing and answering these prayers ^[3].

Christian conduct, as described in various biblical texts, encompasses several key areas:

Believing and Fearing God Believing God and fearing Him are fundamental, as seen in passages like Mark 11:22 and Ecclesiastes 12:13 ^[2].
Loving and Obeying God The command to love God with all one's heart, soul, and might (Deuteronomy 6:5) is echoed in Matthew 22:37, and obedience to God's commands is presented as being for one's own good ^{[2, 6]}. This obedience is not merely external but involves fixing God's law and commandments as one's rule and acquainting oneself with them ^[8].
Following Christ's Example Believing in Christ, loving Him, and following His example are central to Christian conduct ^[2]. This includes obeying Christ's commands, as highlighted in John 14:21 and 15:14 ^[2]. The goal of the present life is to please Christ, and actions done in this earthly body will be assessed ^[11].
Living Righteously Christians are called to live righteously, soberly, and godly ^[2]. This includes walking honestly and pursuing justice ^{[2, 5]}. Justice is commanded in Deuteronomy 16:20 and Isaiah 56:1, and is especially required in rulers ^[5]. It involves fairness in judgment, buying and selling, and extending care to the poor, fatherless, widows, and servants ^[5]. God requires justice and delights in it ^[5].

The concept of "decision" is crucial for prioritizing biblical commands. It is necessary for serving God, as illustrated by Luke 9:62, which speaks against looking back after putting one's hand to the plow ^[1]. Exhortations to make such decisions are found throughout scripture, urging individuals to seek God with their whole heart, keep His commandments, be on the Lord's side, and follow God fully ^[1]. This decision-making is contrasted with a divided service, double-mindedness, or "halting between two opinions" ^[1].

The application of these commands is not merely theoretical. The apostle Paul, for instance, moves from articulating fundamental Christian doctrines to pressing principal duties, emphasizing that religion is practical and aims to reform hearts and lives ^[7]. The blessings promised in scripture are often connected to obedience and sanctification ^[10].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Justice — Commanded -- De 16:20; Isa 56:1. Christ, an example of -- Ps 98:9; Isa 11:4; Jer 23:5. Specially required in rulers -- 2Sa 23:3; Eze 45:9. To be done In executing judgment. -- De 16:18; Jer 21:12. In buying and selling. -- Le 19:36; De 25:15. To the poor. -- Pr 29:14; 31:9. To the fatherless and widows. -- Isa 1:17. To servants. -- Col 4:1. Gifts impede -- Ex 23:8. God Requires. -- Mic 6:8. Sets the highest value on. -- Pr 2:13. Delights in. -- Pr 11:1. Gives wisdom to execute. -- 1Ki 3:11,12; Pr 2:6,9. Displeased with the want of. -- Ec 5:8. Brings its own”
Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 10:13 (LEB) — to keep the commandments of Yahweh and his statutes that I am commanding you today ⌞for your own good⌟.”
Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 12 (introduction): The apostle, having at large cleared and confirmed the prime fundamental doctrines of Christianity, comes in the next place to press the principal duties. We mistake our religion if we look upon it only as a system of notions and a guide to speculation. No, it is a practical religion, that tends to the right ordering of the conversation. It is designed not only to inform our judgments, but to reform our hearts and lives. From the method of the apostle's writing in this, as in some other of the epistles (as from the management of the principal minister”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 3:1: We are here taught to live a life of communion with God; and without controversy great is this mystery of godliness, and of great consequence to us, and, as is here shown, will be of unspeakable advantage. I. We must have a continual regard to God's precepts, Pro 3:1, Pro 3:2. 1. We must, (1.) Fix God's law, and his commandments, as our rule, by which we will in every thing be ruled and to which we will yield obedience. (2.) We must acquaint ourselves with them; for we cannot be said to forget that which we never knew. (3.) We must remember them so that they may ”
Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 30:15: DEATH AND LIFE ARE SET BEFORE THE ISRAELITES. (Deu 30:15-20) See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil--the alternative of a good and happy, or a disobedient and miserable life. Love of God and compliance with His will are the only ways of securing the blessings and avoiding the evils described. The choice was left to them, and in urging upon them the inducements to a wise choice, Moses warmed as he proceeded into a tone of solemn and impressive earnestness similar to that of Paul to the elders of Ephesus (Act 20:26-”
Zechariah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Zechariah 3:7: God's choice of Jerusalem (Zac 3:2) was unto its sanctification (Joh 15:16; Rom 8:29); hence the charge here which connects the promised blessing with obedience. my charge--the ordinances, ritual and moral (Num 3:28, Num 3:31-32, Num 3:38; Jos 1:7-9; Kg1 2:3; Eze 44:16). judge my house--Thou shalt long preside over the temple ceremonial as high priest (Lev 10:10; Eze 44:23; Mal 2:7) [GROTIUS]. Or, rule over My house, that is, My people [MAURER] (Num 12:7; Hos 8:1). We know from Deu 17:9 that the priest judged cases. He was not only to obey the Mo”
2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 5:9: 5:9-10 The goal of the present life is to please him (see also Rom 12:1-2; 14:18; Col 1:10; 1 Thes 4:1). This ambition will be tested when we stand before Christ to be judged. The judge is also our advocate, so we are confident of acquittal (Rom 8:1, 33-34). Yet actions done in this earthly body will be assessed and called to account (Acts 17:31).”

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