Our ministry leader asked me to share about the blessing of obedience tonight. You’ve each heard some regarding my struggle with food, but that’s really just one visible manifestation of a desire to have what I want from the Lord. The problem is that I’m taking what the Lord has gives, demanding more than what I know is right, then living with guilt and remorse after indulging.
The consequence of this is rightful guilt/conviction because of my attitude toward the Lord and shame that I’ve been selfish yet again. Then I deal with fear that I’ll continue making the wrong/sinful choice until I have that next opportunity. I at times live in a vacuum void of joy that Christ really wants for me.
My obedience comes in moments that are largely unknown to anyone else. I’m sometimes with my family, and I know they’re watching my decisions. But largely when I’m alone and I can make whatever decision I want and no one sees except the Lord.
In that moment, I admit that I want to sin. I tell the Lord that I want to be greedy and take more than what is best for me—more than what I know would be pleasing to the Lord. Then I ask for his help to make this decision in a way that honors him as my Savior and Friend. I confess that I don’t want to “honor the Lord with my lips while my heart is far from him” (Mt 15:8).
Then I act. I make a decision that is (hopefully) honoring to the Lord.
Four significant blessings come to mind:
- Deep-seated peace with the Lord’s presence, meaning that my relationship with Christ is at rest. The Lord leads me to what I need, whether I think it’s good, hard, unfair, or impossible. God knows what I need and I’m able to relax in the grip of God’s underserved kindness. Ps 73:23-28 is a favorite of mine:
Psalm 73:23–28 (ESV)
23 Nevertheless (though I acted wrongly toward you (embittered and brutish), I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
- Contentment that he is enough as I continually grow in learning how to live life and minister by serving with the strength God supplies (1 Pt 4:7-11).
I genuinely want God to be glorified in my life—at home and in ministry—so I must be sober-minded and self-controlled. When I’m obedient, I’m honest about my many struggles, I live in humility because I know what I really deserve from the Lord so I’m increasingly grateful for what I have from him.
- My expectations are more accurate. Life is filled with trouble, and as Christians we should not expect to avoid hardship. When I’m walk with the Lord, thankful for and resting in his presence I’m content that he is enough, I trust his counsel through the Word and what he leads me to in my circumstances, and I expect some hard things in this life so I’m more readily apt to respond to them in the supernatural flow of keeping in step with the Spirit.
- My confidence in the Lord grows, knowing that as he enables me to make one right decision, he will enable me to make more. He won’t make the decision for me, but his power and help stand ready to make the next one and I approach my next decision with much more confidence to live in the strength which God supplies.
Ed Welch said, “The path of change goes through your heart and continues on to the gospel, where God most fully reveals to us his Son Jesus Christ in the death and resurrection of Christ.”[1]
[1] Ed Welch, “Motives: Why Do I Do the Things I D?” Journal of Biblical Counseling 22, no. 1 (Fall 2003): 7.
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