Simple Obedience

Am I the only one that loves reading comments on articles or blogspots? Obviously not! I find the comment section interesting, educative, hilarious and downright crazy some times. Some comments are simply unbelievable! This morning I came across a particular comment that somewhat saddened me. A young lady left a comment on a YouTube video of a popular American preacher. She'd met the man in an elevator at a conference and requested that the man prayed for her as she'd had a near death experience.  Instead of personally praying for the lady, the pastor requested that she asked any graduating student at the even to pray for her. From her comment, she never did as the pastor requested but got upset and now holds a grudge.

 The above story sound familiar doesn't it? Reminds me of the encounter Naaman had with Elisha in 2 Kings 5. This reputable Syrian general had gone to meet the prophet of God to be cured off his sickness only to be given a seemingly silly instruction. Elisha did not even deem it fit to accord him a royal welcome as he'd expected. The Syrian general got upset, ready to return home without doing as Elisha instructed but thank God for his servants who encouraged him to do the prophets bidding.

Photo Crdit:padreescobita.blogspot.com

CENTRAL TRUTH: God's instructions sometimes never makes sense. He is too Sovereign to be confined within man's reasoning "For my thought are not your thought nor your ways my ways, declares the Lord" Isaiah 55:8. In the case of Naaman, he was expecting Elisha to come out' wave a wand or utter some magical hocus pocus but the instruction was to simply dip himself seven times in water. As if that was not bad enough, he was told to wash himself in the Jordan river of all rivers! That almost made him blow a fuse. After all Syria boasted better and cleaner waters. However before God, it was not about the water or Naaman's expectations but a matter of simple obedience. 

Obedience  simply acknowledges the Lordship of God without questioning his ways. God is seeking men and women who are willing to obey his commands without demanding to know the How, where, when; a generation of people who will run at His commands. A wise man wrote that obedience is an expression of our love for God. "if you love me, you will keep my commands"John 14:15

one reason why a lot of people are not living in the abundance God promises His children can be found in disobedience. Many have "set" minds on how things should be done and how success can be achieved. Unfortunately it doesn't have to be your way "I am the Lord your God,who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way that you should go" Isaiah 48:17. God has your good in mind. Imagine what would have happened if the widow at Zarephat had ignored Elijah's instruction. Her small provisions would have run out and her family would have died of starvation. However in a simple act of obedience to a weird instruction, her family was sustained through out the famine.

Photo Credit:www.brokenfollower.com

If only that lady that made the comment on the pastor's page had simply obeyed instead of being set in her way, she'd have saved herself the heartache and her testimony would have been different today. Since we are  brave enough to call God father, lets take the relationship higher in the area of obedience.

OBSTACLES TO OBEDIENCE:FEAR, DOUBT, UNBELIEF, NEGATIVE SET MIND.

INGREDIENTS FOR OBEDIENCE: LOVE, FAITH, TRUST, GRACE.

Make up your mind.Stop questioning God's method and start trusting HIM. He knows best.

A NEW WAY, A BETTER WAY.

"Let me just give him a gentle wack on the bum", I argued with the Holy Spirit. "nothing too painful, just enough to get him to behave", I persisted while trying to quickly place my fresh laundry into the hot press so I could fulfil that pressing need to give Joshua a smacking that he'll not forget in a hurry. In my quest to get that piece of work done quickly, I almost toppled down my mini ladder. "Oh gosh", I muttered while trying to maintain a proper balance without falling off and breaking my neck. "You better take it easy and not hurt yourself", that still gentle voice said. "Go down stairs and find out what the fuss is all about but don't smack him". "Ok", I conceded and stumped not too gently down the stairs so the Holy Spirit would know how I felt about not giving Josh some good old "smakaroo". I felt cheated off a good old fashion smacking after all the bible said "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly" Proverbs 13:14. I felt the Holy Spirit was denying me the Justice I so wanted to lash out by screaming my lungs out. I'd given him his favourite meal right after school, played with him before going up to do my chores, so what could be the problem? After ruling out all other possibilities that I could draw up in my head, I felt a good old fashioned discipline was well deserved. On getting into the living room, I gently asked him what the matter was instead of shouting which would have been my initial response to his tantrums. I felt stupid doing the coey doey stuff because that's not me. I DO SHOUT AND I DO IT WELL...but not today. I'd decided to try a different way by obeying the Holy Spirit and it turned out to be a better way. Josh calmed down faster with my gentle words and hugs. It is not always easy adjusting to new things. There is that awkward moments of fitting in especially when you've mastered the old. For instance starting out on a diet leaves one painfully hungry(or maybe its only me cos i'm even more hungry now than ever). I remember how it felt driving my friend's new car when mine was broken. It was awkward initially until I mastered the new features and driving became "easy peasy", much better than my old banger (now I hate my car...*sob*sob*sob*) Peter had a similar experience. Imagine Jesus, the son of a carpenter telling Peter who had a Masters in Fisheries to launch out into the deep to catch fish! What audacity! Peter had been toiling all night! He'd tossed his net to the north, west, east and south of the sea and had caught nothing. After his initial protest, he gave into Jesus's request and got a MIND BLOWING TESTIMONY. The difference between his first attempt and the second was OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD. Instead of rebellion, he chose the better way-OBEDIENCE. He wouldn't have got that terrific result if Jesus was not in the boat with him. The old way is full of frustration, emptiness, pain, loss even death. However in Christ there is A NEW WAY, A BETTER WAY that leads to life. It's not always easy but so worth it. I don't shout at Josh anymore and the result is beautiful. I'm enjoying a better and healthier relationship with my boy. P.S my wrinkles have also reduced.