Obedience and Discipleship
As I look forward to 2009 –two things that God has convicted me that I’m lacking in (two that are outstanding) - Obedience and Discipleship. God requires strict obedience to his word. That obedience can’t be dependent –on what how God did something in the past. It’s the “how” that we get caught up in. Example: Moses was told to strike the rock in Exodus 17:5. However he was told to SPEAK to the rock in Numbers 20:11. Moses even says- “Must WE bring water from this rock …” and as you know this sin of disobedience caused him to not go into the promise land. Disobedience has always been man’s downfall, from the beginning right up until today. Moses perhaps thought- “Hey the last time I struck the rock..even though God said speak to it..I’ll strike it because .because I struck .water came out last time” But God said….”Because you didn’t trust me enough..to honor me you will not bring this community to the land I promised” We can’t even rely on our past experience with God instead of hearing what God has to say now. He may tell us to do something different in the same situation! We get caught up in traditions and how “we used to do it” God says- “Obey me” period! Disobedience caused the children of Israel to suffer at the Battle of Ai (Joshua 7) You will notice that Joshua did NOT inquire of the Lord on this occasion as he had before. He sent spies who came back and said..”everybody doesn’t need to go up..” They got beat back and when Joshua did ask the Lord why..he replied that there was sin in the camp, however Joshua would have known this had he asked the Lord before he sent the men up. The point is God does not compromise on obedience…ask Saul..When told to destroy the Amalekities he listen to the people instead of doing what was told to him by the man of God. Samuel states powerfully…”To obey is better than sacrifice…and to heed better than the fat of rams (NIV) The children of Israel’s captivity was because of disobedience. Seventy years of captivity because they would not let the land rest..as they were told to do. Jesus says …”if you love me you will obey me” If we have a obedience problem we have a LOVE problem. We are soldiers in a Battle ( a war) and like Jack Nicholson’s line from “A Few Good Men”….”we follows orders or people die” I don’t know about you but I strict obedience to what God is saying…even when (especially when)…I want to do it my way….
Next…Discipleship…
No comments:
Post a Comment