Based on Luke 6:46
MEMORY TEXT: “Teach me to do Thy will: for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good: lead me into the land of uprightness” (Psalm 141:10).
The word obedience has fallen on hard times in recent years. It has almost become an out-dated concept. Evidently, the word makes people think of slavery and oppression, force and punishment. We 21st century people have become so self-sufficient that we won’t tolerate thoughts of domination by anyone or anything.
When my wife and I married fifty years ago, we promised to love, cherish, and obey each other for as long as we both shall live. The traditional vows have all but disappeared in favor of more poetic phrases. And certainly the word obey is almost never used. Nobody wants to be forced to obey anything--not the law, the teacher, the preacher, and even father and mother. And yet obedience is necessary if we are to reach our greatest potential.
An F16 fighter jet is an amazing aircraft with incredible capabilities. But there is one thing that a jet pilot requires above all else: that the aircraft react completely to his control. If it were to have "a mind of its own." regardless of how remarkable that might sound, it couldn’t fly any better than a door stop. In the same way, even if we had all the gifting under the sun, God as the ultimate "pilot" of our lives will do amazing and remarkable things with our lives only if we are fully under His control. If we insist upon taking our lives into our own hands at every opportunity, we will find ourselves as effective as a proverbial door stop, and a less gifted but more humble man or woman will be used in our place. Obedience is the golden key to a life of joy and excellence.
Obedience is an attitude. It can be forced, or it can be from the heart. A person can appear on the outside to be obedient yet in reality be a rebel and a traitor. It’s possible to do what someone tells you to do but hate every minute of it. Jesus doesn’t want that kind of obedience. Love must be the basis of our obedience to Him. And when we love from the heart, we will delight to do His will. “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Obey the Lord today, with all your heart.
|
