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Obedience Is Harsh

Obedience seems so harsh. It sounds to us like because I said so. Who wants to hear this? The problem is that our view of the one who utters the command. If they are absent and hostile and indifferent towards our hearts, then it sounds hollow and passionless. But what if the One is the very life we are want so badly? That is a big what if. And everything hinges on this and it comes down to simply one thing—faith. Is God going to be good?

1 Samuel 15:22-23
22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

What do we think God wants from us? And equally important, what do we think God has for us? If we think we are trying to bargain with God and convince Him to be merciful then we set out to do a bunch of stuff to appease Him—we seek to bring sacrifices. It is as if we are trying to convince God to be good to us because we don’t think He really will be. Instead, His commands are invitations to find Him faithful and in finding Him faithful, we will find Him good.

Rebellion is simply putting up something else as god.
Arrogance is making yourself out to be god.

As we get ready to commit ourselves to obedience, let’s get away from the passionless duty obedience. Instead, let’s see this as an invitation to find God is really God. What would that do for you? He says to obey is better than to sacrifice. You are not trying to get God to be good…you obey and discover it so.

Lord, help my unbelief. Help my skepticism. Help me to overcome so much of what has given me a false view of You. I will trust Your goodness. Lead me. Today, I will look for ways to be obedient and I will trust You to show me how. Amen.

Fixed Eyes

Hebrews 12:1-2
1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Running our own race requires a couple of things- both require us to see well!  We see people who have gone before us and paved the way for us to run.  We see the people around us who affirm and stand with us and help us in our walks with God.  And in light of what we see, we prepare ourselves.

We are instructed to cast off everything that keeps us from running the race- from walking with God.  Everything that hinders.  What hinders you from walking?

Are there issues in your character that hinder your walk?  Are there areas of your life that are undisciplined that hinder your walk?  Are the areas where you need faith?  Forgiveness?  Whatever hinders needs to be addressed so it does not hinder you any longer.

We deal with these by changing our course of action.  Stopping something or starting something.  This puts these things aside!

We are also instructed to cast off the sin that keeps us entangled.  Sin that gets its tentacles deep into our lives and pulls us off the course.  Sin entangles us by confusing our desires.  We are conflicted and lured away by the deceptiveness that sin will satisfy the longing of our soul.  But the desire is really a deep desire for God and the life He has- and this life is found only when we run the race He’s established for us.

We deal with sin by repentance!  We confess our sin, repent and receive His forgiveness for us.

The second thing we are told is to fix our eyes on Christ.  Look to Him, learn from Him, and follow Him.  We talked about the fact that we must discipline ourselves to see Him, and humble ourselves to follow!  Not bargaining or justifying, simply obeying!

And it is when we fix our eyes on Jesus that we discover what keeps us from running well.  We discover the distractions, but most importantly, we discover our sin.  For when we open ourselves to the fullness of His Light- the darkness that keeps us trapped is exposed.  And so this morning, we want to simply fix our eyes on Him.  Let Him fix His eyes on You to probe your heart and soul- to expose and bring healing.  And let us fix our eyes on Him- and follow.  Where ever He leads.  Whatever He asks…  because the race He is calling you to run is the race He’s marked out for you… that you might have life and have it to the fullest!

• Read Hebrews 12:1-2. What is keeping you from running your race well? Where do you find yourself entangled and how is this influencing the way you are living out your One Word?

• What is currently hindering your walk with God and pursuit of Him?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

Flow

I love the word “FLOW.”  It seems so natural—so unforced.  Most of all, it implies another source.  Flow must come from somewhere else.  I find it interesting that the word “INFLUENCE” is derived from this concept of FLOW—it is unforced, almost unnoticeable.

This does not mean unintentional, rather natural, real, authentic.  This is what everyone is looking for.  And most of us resolve somewhere inside of ourselves that we will live that way.  We are going to force ourselves to be this way…

John 7:37-38
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

What does Jesus say will happen to those who simply believe?  This is simply a matter of faith—in another source.  This is to believe that God is who He says He is.  This is to believe that Jesus is the LIFE and that life will flow from inside.  This means to surrender to another source of life.  This is to be free from ever having to force life again.  Instead, you surrender to His life and it flows.

What would it look like for your life to flow from who you really are?  Imagine finding a love so deep and true that it springs forth from the depths of who you are.  Doesn’t this sound freeing?

Well if you are thirsty for this, this is exactly His invitation to you.  Take a moment and think of your agenda.  What do you have to do today?

Now, think about what He might want to flow out of you today through your One Word.  A different way to see this, huh?  What might flow from your heart today that will be living water to another person?

This is the kind of freedom God is calling us to and the kind of life God has made us to live.  It is available if we will simply come and believe…  If we will take Him at His word…  He said whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow.

Lord, I have so many things to do today.  Yet, I am drawn to deeper way of life.  Help me to surrender the first to find the second.  I believe in you.  I believe that you have made me to show who you are to those around me.  I have been placed there to spring forth living water for them to find your invitation true.  I believe in you so I will believe that this is true.  Today, I will allow Your life to flow through me and trust you to accomplish every purpose you have…  Amen.