Suffering vs Obedience.
As a traveler thru the valleys of life, I have come to believe that it is not about the suffering I might encounter along the way, as I tend to make suffering all about me. I have come to believe that it is obedience that is truly important. Obedience to what, you might ask. As a believer I am under God's authority. I am to be obedient to His Word.
I have found that it's hard to be obedient without purpose. Oswald Chambers explains it this way: What is my vision of God’s purpose for me? Whatever it may be, His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me.
The above concept simplifies things for me. All I need to do is depend on His power now, minute by minute if necessary, as this power can't be saved for tomorrow.
In the Book of Matthew there is an account of Jesus walking on water as He approached His disciples who were in a boat. The waters were very rough. As Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus he took his eyes off Jesus to look at the effects of the wind around him. All it took was a split second. When he took his eyes off Jesus, Peter began to sink. Ultimately, Jesus scooped Peter up and returned him safely to the boat. Peter had tapped into God's power, but he failed to stay connected to that power.
The lesson this passage taught me is that faith is a very important component to obedience. It's important to note that this event occurred right after the miracle of all miracles when Jesus turned 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish into enough food for 5,000 plus people. Jesus' disciples who were in the boat knew firsthand the power Christ possessed, yet their faith was weak given their current circumstance. Had Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, I bet he would not have sunk into the water.
As Oswald Chambers concludes: The golden rule to follow to obtain spiritual understanding is not one of intellectual pursuit, but one of obedience. If a person wants scientific knowledge, then intellectual curiosity must be his guide. But if he desires knowledge and insight into the teachings of Jesus Christ, he can only obtain it through obedience.
When we are obedient, and call on God's power in both good and bad times, spiritual fruit is produced that can manifest in the physical world and benefit those around us. I encourage you to challenge yourself to continually ask questions as you search for the truth about obedience and how it might apply to your life.
Destiny or Detour?
There have been countless times in my life when I decided to take a short cut, thinking I was smarter than everyone else. However, in most every case I found that the longest distance between the start and the finish is a shortcut.
In the Old Testament there is a passage about a Jewish prophet named Jonah, who was called on to go to the city of Nineveh and confront the people there regarding their wickedness. Rather than making the best decision Jonah could, he made a decision that aligned with his own thinking. He fled from the presence of the Lord by taking a 2000 mile self-inflicted detour to the city of Tarshish. Ironically, this excursion cost him much more than the fare he paid the captain of the ship. It seems that Jonah fell into the same trap I still struggle with: making important decisions based solely on emotion.
As fate would have it, a mighty storm came upon the sea as the ship Jonah was on headed toward Tarshish. The frightened sailors on that ship confronted Jonah because they knew he had fled from the presence of the Lord. Rather than repent for his disobedience, Jonah makes another emotional decision and tells the sailors to throw him overboard so that the sea would calm down.
After these pagan sailors pray to Jonah's god, they throw him overboard and the sea returns to calm. At this point God is still working on Jonah. A whale swallows up Jonah and after 3 days and nights spits him up on dry land. God's mercy allows Jonah a do-over. This time Jonah arose and went to Nineveh.
So what changed? God did not change, it was Jonah who changed. He learned something of value on his detour. He learned that his way was not the best way. As a result of his eventual obedience, the people in Nineveh repented and God spared judgement on them.
History was changed because Jonah obeyed God. Here's the thing. History was changed not just in the temporal world, but it was also changed for eternity for those in Nineveh who repented. This Old Testament passage seems to point to John 14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
Do you believe you are capable of "greater works" than Christ Himself? What is God's destiny for you? Will you allow Him equip you as you travel thru the valleys of life? Will you allow Him to pay the fare instead of you?
