“Good men (women) are never idle, they are not hurried, worried, or flurried. They keep the even tenor of their way, walking steadily towards heaven.
The Law of the Lord is not irksome to them, its commands are not grievous and its restrictions are not slavish in their esteem.
They are rather a chart for their daily course, a map of the road for their life’s journey. The path of obedience has no regret. The Lord is their testimony.”
C. Spurgeon
Just the word “command” raises a red flag in our heart of hearts, doesn’t it?
We live in a day and age where we are not subservient and not held responsible or accountable for anything we are asked to do. We can question and decide if we feel like doing it or if, we even want to do it at all! Western culture has taken a huge swing into massive confusion and our homes have followed suit. We make decisions on a whim, usually independent of our authority with no consequence considered. Often our decisions are made without biblical consideration.
We are easily persuaded by every “wind and doctrine”. Hence the continual “church hopping”, the high divorce rate among believers, the on-line dating for the increasing singles population, the struggling marriages with unruly children, the media mayhem, the unprecedented division in national, state, local and church leaderships. We see it all around us…chaos.
Sound familiar?
There is a day coming when we will all be held accountable for our part of the chaos! Accountable for every thought, word, deed and motive. God has a plan that gives us moms a key for ourselves and for our children that will allow them to develop into mature adults that will be equipped to make a change in the next generation.
How can we be assured of success?
It begins with obedience to what He asks of us.
…What, exactly, does the Lord our God ask of us?
- to fear Him
- to walk in all his ways
- to love him
- to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul (mind, will and emotions!)
- to observe His commands and decrees…” Deuteronomy 10: 12
Asking too much?
The truth is, it is our reasonable service in the light of His sacrifice for us! Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit should be our response with no hesitation, no rationalization and no doubt…just a simple immediate compliance. Having will power over our actions is empowering! Self-constraint breeds dignity and strength of character and a sense of self-possession and assurance.
When God asks us to respond to Him, He expects it to be immediate because He has sent His Spirit ahead to convince us of His truth. He enables us to hear His voice and He anticipates our instant obedience. When we fail to respond to Him we face the consequence of our disobedience and miss the joy of His fellowship and the reward.
Chaos ensues and our peace is disrupted!
Why do we hesitate to instantly yield?
While in training for the mission field, a seasoned instructor, who had served years in the jungles of Brazil, told me after sensing my hesitation to respond to a truth in the Word, “The choices you make will blight or bless, Jackie. If you aren’t a missionary, you are a mission field”.
Procrastination when God gave clear instruction made me a mission field! The responsibility to live a life of obedience to His Word was solely mine. I was responsible for me and accountable to God for every decision! The only way my choices would line up with His would be if I knew what His Word said and did what God asked of me!
What was it, again, that God requires of me?
It is not complicated…
- To fear Him is to fear the consequence of sin.
- To walk in “all His ways” is to maintain a moment-by-moment walk of God- consciousness:
- with no unconfessed sin and no unresolved relationship
- with an acceptance of trials as teachers and opportunity
- with no hypocrisy
- To Love Him is to hate evil (all unrighteousness)
- no double-mindedness
- no disloyalty
- To serve Him is to stay dead to my self-life, so I stay out of His way and He can work through me for the benefit of others
- To observe His commands is to get into His Word and let His truth encourage, admonish and instruct me.
Sound interesting?
The reward and blessing of responding to God with instant obedience is overwhelmingly inspiring… especially if you are comparing it to the disobedient alternative.
Which will you choose?
Acceptance of God’s commands and map for your life’s journey
or
Rebellion, Procrastination and Regret at the end of the line?
We will be held accountable!
So will those little princes and princesses following us!
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is discipling and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
