As we start this new year, I am reflecting on the biggest lesson I have learned from the past year and that is Obedience. I remember the respected pastor, Charles Stanley, used to say, “Obey God and leave all consequences to Him.” I used to love hearing him say this, but I must admit it also brought me a little trepidation. I know the consequences of obedience may not always be good in the short term, but each act of obedience also has eternal consequences. Obeying God is not always convenient or comfortable, but it is the best thing to do. Obedience can also be a real fight as the devil does not want us to be in God’s will. He delights in us rebelling and rejecting God’s way and he will tempt us with things that may look good in the short term but could have dire consequences for our eternal life.
Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18
There is peace that surpasses understanding when we obey the Lord. However, we must understand that we may not understand God’s instructions, because they may make no sense to us. God doesn’t always tell us to do what is logical and it may go against our human nature or maybe even nature itself.
But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. Luke 5:5-11
Without Jesus, whatever we do is nothing. Even if we are seemingly having worldly success if we are not abiding in the Vine we can do nothing. (See John 15:5). These fishermen realized at the moment they obeyed what Jesus told them to do, which was contrary to their experience as fishermen, they caught an amazing number of fish. They had just obeyed the One, who all things were created through and for. These fishermen left everything to follow Jesus into the unknown leaving their bountiful catch of fish which He made them have. They faced many joys and sorrows, but they kept on following Jesus until the end of their lives and walked into eternity with Him. They left the blessing of probably the biggest catch of fish they ever had in their lives to follow Jesus to become fishers of men. Because of their obedience they had extraordinary experiences with Jesus. I read the excerpt below in an Intouch.org devotional recently.
When we do what the Lord asks, He is pleased. But when we disobey, it costs us. God loves His children unconditionally and has a perfect plan for each one. Obeying Him ultimately will never prove disappointing, because when we do, our hearts open wide to let His power pour in.
I heard an Indian pastor in Australia say, “God’s love is unconditional, but His blessings are conditional.” He cited Deuteronomy 28 as proof of what he said.
“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God”…“But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.” Deuteronomy 28:1-2,15
We should not just obey God for blessings. But we should do it because we love Him. In John 14:15, Jesus told His disciples that if they loved Him, they would obey His commands. That goes for all of us too. Our obedience should come out of love, and that makes it easier to face whatever consequences may come. We hear of many Christians throughout the world who would not deny Jesus and were killed because of their love and obedience to Him. No matter what happens this year, let us love Jesus and obey Him. I will end with a part of Paul’s and Timothy’s letter to the Colossian Church.
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:9-12
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