Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Most believers today are basically pragmatists. If something does not seem to be effective or good for growth (i.e. street preaching, doctrinal Bible teaching) they dismiss it for apparently more effective tools (i.e. Christian dramas, soulwinning without mentioning hell, etc.). We walk by faith not by sight and our reward is not for being most-effective, but rather for our obedience to the word of God. ~Morgan Lester
In the book of Joshua, we find a most interesting account of obedience to God when the command did not make much human sense. The children of Israel have come to the Jordan River on their way to the Promised Land. The Jordan was overflowing its banks. The Lord God commanded the priests that bare the ark of the Lord to put their feet into the water....THEN, the Lord would hold back the waters so the children of Israel could walk across on dry ground.
The priests did exactly as they were commanded, the Lord kept His word, and the people passed over on dry ground (Joshua 3:15-17). Why didn't God just tell Joshua to stretch out his arm and the waters would part as they did for Moses? Why didn't God just part the waters without commanding for anyone to do anything?
My opinion of this, which is totally fallible, is that God was testing their faith in Him. If you believe (have faith) in something or someone, you will act on that belief. For example, in a marriage, love is demonstrated through action. Another example is the belief in Hell. If we truly believe there is a Hell, we will be busy telling others how to avoid going there. If we truly believe lying is wrong, we will be truthful. If we truly believe the Bible is God's Word, we will not just tout about that we have it, but we will live by the words contained therein. Okay, so you get the picture...
This brings us to the main point: Obedience to God is Essential! The Bible is FULL of commands. (You MUST rightly divide the Word and see to whom the command is given.) Some of them do not seem to make much human sense. I mean really, I'm supposed to love my enemies and bless them? (Rom. 12:14-21) Do I really have to obey my husband? (Titus 2:5) Do I really have to suffer to be like Christ? (I Pet. 2:21) Do I have to deny myself? (Luke 9:23) Do I have to seek the future instead of the present? (Col. 3:2) Do I really have to forgive those who hurt me? (Col. 3:13; Eph. 4:32) Do I really have to put others ahead of myself? (Phil. 2:3)
There are many more commands given to us in the Scriptures. Some of them do not seem to make sense, but if we will just obey God, He will bless us. I'm not talking about sending you $1000 in the mail. I'm talking about conforming you into the image of Jesus Christ, which is the goal. (Col. 3:10)
There's a children's song that goes like this....
Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe
Doing exactly what the Lord commands and doing it happily
Action is the key! Do it immediately! Joy you will receive!
Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.
I just want to encourage you today to obey the Lord, even if it seems like the command makes no sense. You can trust God! If He can save our souls, we can trust Him to do what He says He will do. He wants us to fully rely on Him for everything! He is more than able to work in our hearts to make us more like Him if we will just trust and obey. "There is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."