Hello, beloved friends. It's been a while since I wrote, so a brief
recap of this message might be helpful. I've been sharing how many
in the body of Christ regard themselves as sinners, even though they
claim to be saved and filled with God's Spirit. And I've been
saying that we play right into satan's hands when we regard
ourselves as anything less than holy. The first two installments
were posted a couple of months ago and can be read at
www.mydaddylovesme.org. They ruffled a few feathers, but this is
good news, so I'm glad to share it.
I'm using an acronym of H-O-L-Y and the letter A to give you a model
of what it means to be holy.
Humility is the Armor.
Obedience is the Action
Love is the Aim
Yieldedness is the Attitude
Today, we'll talk about obedience. What is it? Why is it
important?
Basically, obedience is doing what you're told to do. The obedience
we're talking about here is doing what God tells us to do. Do we
wonder what God wants us to do? Are we always looking for a sign
from God that will indicate which way He wants us to go? Have we
decided what we want to do, and now we're asking Him to show us how
to do it? Is life a guessing game where we wonder whether or not
this is God's plan for our life?
One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:14 which says, For as many as
are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. This tells
us that God is always leading us by His Spirit, or to say it another
way, the Holy Spirit is continually directing us.
In a play or a movie, the director tells the actor to do things a
certain way. He is concerned with the "big picture," the impact the
line, the scene, the character will have on the story. God is
always concerned with the "big picture" as He directs our life. We
must decide whether we will respond to His direction. Jesus didn't
really want to be beaten, humiliated, and crucified, but He chose
obedience, knowing that God the Father knew what He was doing.
We can call ourselves "sinners" and stumble through life, wondering
what God wants us to do, but that's not how He wants us to live.
The key to obedience is to ask God what He wants us to do, believing
He will lead us by His Spirit, and then, do as He directs. In my
walk with Jesus, I'm always asking questions: Who do I need to pray
for? Who do I need to call? What song do you want me to sing?
What do you want me to talk about today?
Part of obedience is simply choosing to follow the directives of the
bible, loving God and our neighbor, esteeming others more highly
than ourselves, pursuing peace with all men, resisting the devil.
We have to commit ourselves to choosing God's way over satan's way,
and only then can we begin to have that intimate conversation with
God that so delights Him. When we choose to yield to temptation,
our guilt and shame erect a barrier between us and God. God is
ready at any moment to open His arms of forgiveness, but we must
choose the path of obedience. We can always choose the way of sin,
and reap the destruction it brings.
So remember, God sees the big picture, and He's always right.
Choose obedience. Be the holy person God has called you to be. He
is attentive at every moment of your life to show you the way. He
is the way. Follow Him. I'll see you on the path that leads to
life.
I want to give you tears of joy, my LORD/ I want to give you
tears of joy, my LORD/ I want to give You all of my heart/ All of my
mind and all of my strength/
My LORD/ My LORD
I want to know You in all Your holiness/ I want to lay my life down
at Your feet/ At Your feet
I want to lay my life down at Your feet/ Give You my hopes and give
You all of my dreams/ All of my dreams
I want to give you tears of joy, my LORD/ I want to give you tears
of joy, my LORD/ I want to give You all of my heart/ All of my mind
and all of my strength/
My LORD/ My LORD
This is song #10 on 'Draw Near to God'. You might enjoy #3 on
'1949'- 'Your Will for Me'.
http://www.mydaddylovesme.org/cd_dntg.html
I hope this message has been helpful. Obedience is so basic. I was
riding home the other night just singing o-b-e-d-i-e-n-c-e, and
sensing that's what God wants from us. I'm glad we had this talk.
God and me. Me and Him. He wants to strengthen that vital
relationship between you and Him. Let Him lead. Okay?
--David Benrexi
9/28/04