The Call of Obedience

James 1:2-3 (MSG) “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

Why does it seem like obeying those little prompts are so hard! Because it is, my friend. I think the word “obey” has been perverted so it leaves a negative taste in our mouths. Obedience should express our love toward our Heavenly Father as He has expressed His love for us through His Son, Jesus. We all have a part to play in our relationship with Jesus. Our relationship does not look like a higher being over us, pointing a finger down at us, telling us what to do. No, our relationship is more like a partnership. We both have responsibilities, we both put forth effort, and we both love each other.

We know that we cannot do all that God does and even though God can certainly do all that we do, He chooses not to. He gives us the power of freewill and gives us the freedom to make our choices, good or bad. Obedience is our responsibility. Obedience is an action and it is something we have to be willing to do because God is not a God who forces us to do anything. Just as our responsibility is obedience, God’s responsibility is outcome, the result of what our obedience leads us to. We can expect God to play His part and do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Maybe He is prompting you to smile when at work. Maybe you are to take someone out to coffee and get to know them. Maybe He is asking you to serve in a ministry you aren’t that interested in. Whatever the nudging is, do it! God will most likely start asking you to do small acts of obedience to lead you to do bigger acts of obedience. Real strength is developed through perseverance through obedience. The more we obey what God is asking, the stronger we become.

James 1:2-3 (MSG) “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” Obedience helps to train us and equip us into who we already are. Obedience allows God to pull out what is already inside of us. Obedience allows us to become more mature and well-developed for the work Christ has set before us.

My dear friends, you may have taken all the steps you can take. Allow Him to take you the rest of the way. Which means, you will have to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit. I had a memory of driving through town and I saw this little girl running on the sidewalk. She was further ahead than her father as he was pushing his son a ways back. She was about to run into the street, but then I saw her stop dead in her tracks at the end of the sidewalk. She knew not to go any further without her father. You may represent this little girl and you have reached your end. You have gone as far as you can and now it is time to allow God to walk you the rest of the way. He is saying to each of us that He will handle the outcomes. He will take care of you in the midst of uncertainty. He may be asking us to patiently wait, to forgive that person, to apologize, to stay, to go, to speak up, or to shut up, but do not go further than what He has asked of you. Do your part and let God do His.