by Michael Phillips
A devotional study by bestselling novelist and devotional writer Michael Phillips, identifying 120 commands of Jesus from the gospels, 120 commands of the apostles in the epistles, and 120 commands of the Old Testament prophets.
The first book was originally published in 2012 with small type, then in 2014 was published in 6x9 with larger type, and finally, in 2025 is being released with extra large type in 7x10 format, with new covers.
Read a sample of the first book here
Book 1: The Commands of Jesus, Extra Large Edition
Jesus often introduces the subject of obedience with the tiny but eternally significant word if. He recognizes that there are always two paths—obedience and disobedience. He commands obedience. But many will not obey.
This obedience is a natural outgrowth of love:
- If you love me you will obey my commandments. (John 14:15)
- He who has my commands and keeps them, he it is who loves me. (John 14:21)
- If a man loves me, he will keep my word. (John 14:23)
- You are my friends if you do what I command you. (John 15:14)
Jesus is well aware of the games people play with spiritual things. He wants none to mistake what it means to be his follower. Many will claim to love him. Many will pretend to love him. Many will talk about loving him. Many will analyze what it means to love him. However a Christian is distinguished and defined by one, and only one, thing: Obedience.
Obedience to the Commands of Jesus is a daily, moment-by-moment choice. We make it over and over. We are continually making it. It is a progressive and ongoing choice that defines what it means to love Jesus and be his follower.
Book 2: The Commands of the Apostles, Extra Large Edition
A companion to the author's The Commands of Jesus, this devotional study focuses on 120 commands from the New Testament's epistles and apostolic writings. The brief excerpts are designed to be read one per day, each comprising a single page of the book. Though there is much overlap with The Commands of Jesus, this second volume of the commands trilogy is unique in largely being concerned with relationships between Christians, especially in church settings. This obviously results from the apostolic writings being addressed to the fledgling church in the decades following the Lord’s life. It is therefore a perfect compliment and follow-up to the first volume. Its parallel organization also comprises 12 groupings of 10 commands each.
Book 3: The Commands of the Prophets, Extra Large Edition
Nearly 10 years elapsed between the release of the first two volumes of commands and this final book of the trilogy. Michael confesses that the task of organizing and assimilating the commands of the Old Testament was so daunting that he delayed embarking on it year after year, waiting, he says, for just the right time when he felt the leading that would carry him through to the end. When that time came, as he wrote, daily he prayed that God would show him what command to focus on, and what he would have him say about it. It was during those two years that the prayer, “Lord, what do you have for me today…what do you have for me to communicate from your heart?” became a regular part of Michael’s prayer life.
Two years later, after the book was completed, both Michael and Judy have grown to love this final installment of the series more and more. They recognize it in many ways as the foundation of whole series, seeing how the commands of Jesus emerged out of the tone and temper and ethos of the entire Old Testament in which Jesus had been steeped. Though chronologically coming first in the Bible, they see that the foundational message of The Commands of the Prophets needed the intervening years after the first two volumes to synthesize and focus in Michael’s thoughts and heart until the time was right.
3 Paperback 7x10 books, 921 pages total
