The Beautiful Duty of Obedience
- Terri Maxeiner
- May 12, 2007
Explaining obedience to a 12 year old is pretty much a black and white issue, you do not obey your grounded, that is it! What does obedience mean in the Maxeiner home, doing what you are told, when you are told, and the big- WITH THE RIGHT HEART ATTITUDE! Is it ok if I meet 2 out of 3? NO. How this is so evident in my life, what does an obedient life look like to me? From a message I read by John Piper titled "The Pleasure of God in Obedience", he mentions 6 things that delight God in obedience-
- It means God is Praiseworthy and Reliable
- It guarantees the Spread of God's Glory
- It shows that God's Grace is a Glorious Power
- God's Commandments are not to hard- 1John 5:3
- Everything God Commands us is for our Good
- The Obedience God loves is the Obedience of Faith
We know that obedience is God's love language for us, am I that woman who is faithful to God when he prompts my heart to obey? As a women so thirsty for His Word, and knowing in my head that the knowledge is there, but has it taken root in my heart? Paul challenged us this past Sunday to "walk out what we know", it is a testimony of our love for Jesus Christ. As a people, that call ourselves Christians, we should delight in serving Our God. It is easy when we are in a comfortable place ministering to other comfortable people, what about when we are asked to step out in faith to the uncomfortable??? Yikes God not me, I am not ready, I cannot do that, are You really asking me, let me call 20 of my friends first, or I need more time??? Well, I mentioned what our definition of obedience is and I do not think I have all 3 conditions met, when I second guess what God doing.
How we easily forget what God has equipped us with, His Beloved people. His Word tells us in Hebrews- Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the Great Shepherd of the Sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant , Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His Will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the Glory forever and ever, Amen . Hebrews 13:20-21
As a woman who unfortunately has not always been an obedient follower of Jesus Christ, I need to remember what God's Word has promised to His Beloved followers. Moses stated to the people in Duet.4:5-6 See, I have taught you statutes and judgements, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do thus ...So keep and do them, that is for your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, "Surely this great nation is wise and understanding people" The Christian life is an obedient life because others are watching us, does our life mirror what we know? How does my life reflect my love for Jesus, so others may want to be introduced to Him, am I that reflection of Him? It can be very unsafe and scary, but as we were taught this past Sunday, Ephesians 3: 19-20...that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God, vs.20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. .AMEN to that!
A truly wonderful quote I heard and I cannot remember to whom I shall credit but here it is: A man (or woman) in the middle of God's will, obedient to God's call, will not fail in God's eyes.
