Good Morning My Friends! Once again, our enemy has not wanted God’s message to be known to you. My computer has frozen multiple times this morning. But God has once again restored. Today’s message: to obey or not to obey, that is the question.
“Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations” (1 Kings 2:3, NIV).
Today, we have a choice. We can choose to intentionally live obeying God or disobeying Him. Now, He never said it would be easy. In fact, we’ve been learning, it’s not always easy. We’ve also learned that the desires within us many times are contrary to how God wants us to live. Walk with me while I share a true story, my first memory of the importance of refraining from disobedience and embracing obedience.
True Story Ahead
My parents, who I love immensely, had their hands full for sure. God blessed them with five daughters and one son. I am the youngest child. Yes, the baby of the family.
I grew up in a tiny town where everyone knew everyone. We attended the Lutheran church in this small farming community. One Sunday morning, when I was a preschooler, Communion was given to the congregation. I remember how formal the Holy Sacrament of Communion was at this church.
Communion is a time to remember what Jesus has done for our sins. Partaking in Communion stresses the special union with God and with other Christians. It’s considered holy.
But when you’re three or four years old, you don’t know all these things. But you do know what it means when your mom instructs you to sit and be quiet.
As the usher came to our row, everyone in my family got up except those of us who were not yet confirmed to take Communion. That would have been one of my sisters, my brother, and me. The rest all walked down to the altar.
And then little Michelle decided to disobey mom. She stood up on the pew “to see.” Okay, that’s not so bad. Children are curious and like to observe. It’s one way they learn.
But I’m a communicator. I’m an expressive communicator. I made the drastic error to yell out, “Hi Mom!” As I waved and smiled trying to get her attention, she turned around and gave me “that look.”
That didn’t seem to deter me from my continued attention-getting act of disobedience. Yes, that’s right, sweet little Michelle continued this all through the Sacrament of Communion.
When my mom slid in the pew beside me, I was still smiling, but that quickly changed when she whispered into my ear, “Wait until we get home.”
If your mom has ever said that to you before, you know the depth of how far your heart falls and then you gulp!
Well, I could wait actually. I was in no hurry to get home.
Nevertheless, we did eventually enter our house. Mom grabbed her blue slipper with the hard sole and ushered me down to the basement away from everyone else to have my own special communion with her and God.
I learned in the following moments that there are real consequences to disobedience.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1, NIV).
It please the Lord (Colossians 3:20) and our parents when we obey them. Remember, God is our Parent. He is our Heavenly Father, so we are to obey Him.
Walk in Obedience
Obedience is when we follow the commands or guidance of God. When we conform to or comply with God’s Word.
This morning as I was reading through many Scriptures, I noticed in almost every verse related to obedience the phrase “walk in obedience.”
When we walk, we move in a visible way. We advance by actual steps taken. I think that’s what the whole point of the 40 Days of Intentional Living is all about.
God is giving us intentional steps to take that will advance us forward. He’s providing visible ways for us to move and to live.
God does this because He wants to bless us. He desires for us to prosper and be successful. He wants it to go well with us.
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him” (Psalm 128:1, NIV).
“I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you” (Jeremiah 7:23, NIV).
We need to be careful to obey everything He commands us because we will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord our God (Deut. 12:28, HCSB).
Disobedience
I embarrassed my mom. I disappointed her. Everyone in the church knew us. My behavior was a reflection on my family, on my parents. I shared the same last name. I was part of this family.
So it is with God. If we are part of His family, our behavior is a reflection of Him.
When we disobey God, we sometimes embarrass Him. We disappoint Him. If we persist in our disobedience, we provoke Him. We will have to pay the consequences for our disobedience.
There is punishment. There should be consequences for our disobedience.
Even though my mom, like God, was patient and slow to become angry with me, I provoked her. When I chose to not obey her, I risked my own wellbeing.
“’But you would not obey Me’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘in order that you might provoke Me to anger by the work of your hands and bring disaster on yourselves’” (Jeremiah 25:7, HCSB).
My mom that Sunday morning in church made it very clear how I was to act. I chose to disobey her and the consequence was not pleasant.
Praise be to God, that my mom disciplined me. She followed through with her parental duty and let my little butt know what happens when I disobey her. Who knew a blue slipper could hurt so much. Mom taught me the importance of obedience. She also taught me what happens when I persist to disobey.
Today, 50 years later, I remember this lesson well. The image of the blue slipper has stayed with me all my life. I’m thankful my mom trained me up in the ways of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
Practical Application
Today, we need to really focus on obedience. There are multiple ways we are to walk in obedience. Here are just a few:
But the greatest commandment of all is to love (Matthew 22:34-39).
Blessing for the Day
[callout]May you walk in obedience to God. May you keep His decrees and commands, His laws and regulations. May you prosper in all you do and wherever you go because of your obedience. (1 Kings 2:3, NIV)[/callout]
Just for Today
Refrain from Disobedience. Embrace Obedience!
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