The Joy of Obedience
Nwa Jesu
In times of disobedience, we become spiritually weak and unable to discern right from wrong.
Obedience can be a challenge, especially when we are tempted to believe that we know more about our lives and circumstances than God does. However, obeying God is essential to pleasing Him–not just in times of deep, serious temptation but in moments of simpler testing as well.
In fact, there is never a time when obedience is unimportant to the Lord. Though it may seem easier to obey Him concerning situations that have been clearly defined in His Word, God requires our obedience in every circumstance of life.
Telling a so-called white lie can be just as detrimental to our spiritual well-being as yielding to a greater temptation like adultery or stealing When God commands us to obey Him, He is giving us a principle by which to live. He also is setting a framework around our lives that forms a hedge of protection from evil.
Can you remember the last time you were tempted to do the opposite of what you knew God desired you to do? Deep inside, you probably understood what was right, but a struggle ensued within you. The question arose: Would you obey God and please Him or disobey Him and hope that He would not notice?
When we choose to obey God, we choose the way of wisdom. It also is the way to blessing.
When some people think of obedience, their thoughts turn to their children or some other young person. They surmise that others, especially today’s youth, need to learn how to be obedient. However, obedience is crucial at every level of maturity. And as we grow in our walk with the Lord, obedience becomes a cornerstone to fellowship with God. If we obey Him, He pulls us closer to Himself and teaches us more about His precepts and His personal love.
Sometimes as we grow older, however, we find ways to remove the sensitivity surrounding God’s commandment to obey Him. We reason that we have learned how to live obediently before God, and, therefore, we do not need to dig deeper into the issue of obedience. We assign to others the commandment to obey God while dismissing it from our own lives.
This is what the nation of Israel did in the book of Judges. The Bible says they did what was right in their own eyes. (Judges 17:6) In other words, Israel did as it pleased.
The Israelites forgot the Lord and served other gods. They made their own decisions, lived immoral lives, and refused to worship the God who, years earlier, had brought them out of Egyptian bondage. Their lives were marked by disobedience, and they sank into an even greater bondage than the one their forefathers had experienced at the hands of Pharaoh.
Disobedience sends a message to the Lord, declaring the fact that we know better than He does when it comes to our lives and the circumstances surrounding them.
God’s concern for us is one of deep love and devotion. He commands our obedience not because He is a strict taskmaster but because He knows the effect disobedience and sin will have on our lives. Satan, however, has his own goal in mind when it comes to the believer. He seeks to tempt him or her to disobey God.
This was the enemy’s goal in the Garden of Eden, and it remains his central focus today. He knows that if he can entice us to sin, our actions will dishonor the Lord and bring sorrow to the heart of God.
Disobedience has fierce repercussions. Feelings of guilt, shame, and worthlessness are just three of the emotional consequences of disobedience. Broken lives, destroyed marriages, and bitter disputes also result from disobedience and sin. While sin cannot change God’s eternal love for us, it certainly disrupts our fellowship with the Savior because it alienates the believer from God’s blessings. This alone is enough to cause us to sense the Lord’s rebuke, which is God’s way of saying, "What you are doing is not right. Turn away from it and return to Me."
In times of disobedience, we become spiritually weak and unable to discern right from wrong. We sink deeper into sin’s grasp instead of being able to reverse our sinfulness on our own.
However, God does not leave us hopeless. The apostle Paul writes, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
In Psalm 139, David writes: "My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me" (vv. 15-16). God is close to us and is personally involved in all we do. He understands our deepest needs and our heart-felt longings.
The book of Deuteronomy chronicles Israel’s preparation to enter the Promised Land. God knew Israel would be tempted to stop worshiping Him and worship the gods of other nations. But in Deuteronomy, He makes His will very clear to the people of Israel and to Joshua, who is the one to lead the nation into the Promised Land.
"See, I am setting before you today a blessing . . . , if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 11:26-27).
In chapter 28, the Lord says, "Now it shall be, if you will diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God . . . " (vv. 1-2).
The rest of this chapter spells out the blessings that came as a result of Israel’s obedience. This same principle is at work in our lives. Obedience leads to blessing while disobedience leads to disappointment, sorrow, and brokenness.
As we begin to apply the following principles to our lives, we will begin to live a life of obedience and blessing:
• Trust God with your life and all that concerns you. There is no way to go wrong if you place your hope and trust in God. He created you, and He loves you with an eternal love. Therefore, you are His greatest concern and the apple of His eye.
• Wait on the Lord for an answer to your problem or situation. When in doubt, refuse to move ahead unless you know that God is leading you.
• Meditate on God’s Word. When you saturate your mind with the Word of God, you gain God’s viewpoint. When a temptation comes, you will know right from wrong and can act accordingly. Never underestimate the power of God in your life.
• Listen to the Holy Spirit. God continues to speak to His people today He speaks to us through His Word, the Holy Spirit, and through the words of a pastor or trusted Christian friend. The way we become sensitive to the Spirit of God is to seek Him through His Word and by spending time with Him–praying and studying the principles written in Scripture.
• Be willing to wait or walk away when the way before you is not clear. Obedience to God will require you to be firm if you desire to please God above all others. If you do not sense clear guidance for your situation, ask God to confirm His will to you in His Word. He never will go against Scripture. His will for your life always lines up perfectly with what is written in the Bible.
• Be willing to experience conflict. Israel entered the Promised Land, but it had to face enemy opposition. God rarely empties our lives of trouble and conflict. If He did, our dependence on Him would fade. He allows enough difficulty to keep us turned toward Him.
• Leave the consequences to God. Obedience may not be viewed as being popular. But it will put you in a favorable position before God, and just as He promised to bless the nation of Israel, He will do the same for you Therefore, be obedient and leave the rest to Him.
• Accept God’s discipline with thanksgiving. The story told by Jesus of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is especially significant. In it we read of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness.
Perhaps you have made a wrong decision. You wonder what the outcome will be. Apart from God, the outcome always is one of sorrow and grief.
However, God does not want this for your life. He may not remove all the heartache and pain your decision has caused, but He can and will forgive you.
The prophet Isaiah reminds us that when we turn to Him in repentance, He washes sin’s dark stain from our lives so that we become white and pure as snow.
If this is your desire, perhaps the following prayer is one that will bring rest to your troubled heart.
Father, thank You for Your grace, love, mercy, kindness, patience, and goodness. I have faltered many times and fallen deep into sin. However, You always have picked me up and placed me back on the right path heading in the right direction. I pray that Your Spirit of obedience will find a home in my life. I choose to walk obediently before You knowing that when I do, I will receive a greater blessing than anything this world has to offer. Give me Your discernment to know right from wrong in every situation I face. Amen.
__________________________________________________________________________
Visit http://www.visto.com/info, your free web-based communications center.
Visto.com. Life on the Dot.
Akwani
greatest dissidents is Jesu himself. You may counter: "But he was obedient
to the will of God." Indeed, he knew the will of God, (He is part of it). I
believe that it is the WILL of God that we query everything until we've
discerned that such is truly the will of God. This is the way of Jacob, the
most blessed man before God. Blind obedience is the greatest desire of
Ceaser(?).
At 09:55 AM 5/10/00 -0700, Nwa Jesu wrote:
>
>
>In times of disobedience, we become spiritually weak and unable to discern
right from wrong.
>
>Obedience can be a challenge, especially when we are tempted to believe
that we know more about our lives and circumstances than God does. However,
obeying God is essential to pleasing Him–not just in times of deep, serious
temptation but in moments of simpler testing as well.
>
>In fact, there is never a time when obedience is unimportant to the Lord.
Though it may seem easier to obey Him concerning situations that have been
clearly defined in His Word, God requires our obedience in every
circumstance of life.
>
>Telling a so-called white lie can be just as detrimental to our spiritual
well-being as yielding to a greater temptation like adultery or stealing.
>• Listen to the Holy Spirit. God continues to speak to His people today. He
speaks to us through His Word, the Holy Spirit, and through the words of a
pastor or trusted Christian friend. The way we become sensitive to the
Spirit of God is to seek Him through His Word and by spending time with
Him–praying and studying the principles written in Scripture.
>
>• Be willing to wait or walk away when the way before you is not clear.
Obedience to God will require you to be firm if you desire to please God
above all others. If you do not sense clear guidance for your situation, ask
God to confirm His will to you in His Word. He never will go against
Scripture. His will for your life always lines up perfectly with what is
written in the Bible.
>
>• Be willing to experience conflict. Israel entered the Promised Land, but
it had to face enemy opposition. God rarely empties our lives of trouble and
conflict. If He did, our dependence on Him would fade. He allows enough
difficulty to keep us turned toward Him.
>
>• Leave the consequences to God. Obedience may not be viewed as being
popular. But it will put you in a favorable position before God, and just as
He promised to bless the nation of Israel, He will do the same for you.
Therefore, be obedient and leave the rest to Him.
>
>• Accept God’s discipline with thanksgiving. The story told by Jesus of the
Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is especially significant. In it we read of
God’s unconditional love and forgiveness.
>
>Perhaps you have made a wrong decision. You wonder what the outcome will
be. Apart from God, the outcome always is one of sorrow and grief.
>
>However, God does not want this for your life. He may not remove all the
heartache and pain your decision has caused, but He can and will forgive you.
>
>The prophet Isaiah reminds us that when we turn to Him in repentance, He
washes sin’s dark stain from our lives so that we become white and pure as
snow.
>
>If this is your desire, perhaps the following prayer is one that will bring
rest to your troubled heart.
>
>Father, thank You for Your grace, love, mercy, kindness, patience, and
goodness. I have faltered many times and fallen deep into sin. However, You
always have picked me up and placed me back on the right path heading in the
right direction. I pray that Your Spirit of obedience will find a home in my
life. I choose to walk obediently before You knowing that when I do, I will
receive a greater blessing than anything this world has to offer. Give me
Your discernment to know right from wrong in every situation I face. Amen
>
>
>
>
>__________________________________________________________________________
>Visit http://www.visto.com/info, your free web-based communications center.
>Visto.com. Life on the Dot.
>
>
>
HOME PAGE: http://www.ncf.ca/~cd847
Nwa Jesu
NwaJesu
+++++++
Your discernment to know right from wrong in every situation I face. Amen.
Akwani
At 11:18 AM 5/10/00 -0700, Nwa Jesu wrote:
>So, what is the problem?
>
>
>NwaJesu
>+++++++
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Akwani cd...@freenet.carleton.ca
>Sent: Wed, 10 May 2000 13:38:44 -0400 (EDT)
>To: nwa...@visto.com, naij...@egroups.com
>CC: igbo...@lists.cc.utexas.edu
>Subject: Re: The Joy of Obedience
>
>
>With all due respect Nwa Jesu, this is colonist propaganda. One of the
>greatest dissidents is Jesu himself. You may counter: "But he was obedient
>to the will of God." Indeed, he knew the will of God, (He is part of it) I
HOME PAGE: http://www.ncf.ca/~cd847