This week we were studying Jesus words to His disciples in John 14 where He says "if you love me, you will keep my commandments". He continues the theme throughout this section with addition of a promise that He will send, "The Spirit that will guide them into truth". Powerful challenge and promise wrapped up into one.
It seems to me that this a call to "radical obedience" with the provision of One to carry it out.
So, I am wondering how this radical obedience has played itself out in your lives? To what has Christ called you to be obedient and how has the Spirit enlightened you with the truth and power to carry it out?
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Well, moving across the country to help plant a church was pretty radical. My temptation many times is to look lovingly back on the one or two big moments like that and use them as an excuse not to continue to obey in new and more radical ways. "Remember that one time when I did that one thing? That was awesome!" (RIP Chris Farley)
ReplyDeleteStrangely, Ecclesiastes gave me the strength and power to continue this morning.
Talk about the recognition of "BIG' moments. i really think that this radical obedience can be parsed down to a series of little things and really should be. I think this is the call of those who are followers of Jesus. It is the big things that are noticed by others, but it is the small things that are noticed by God. So, I can get the BIG thing right as follow God in obedience into pastoral ministry. But I can mistreat and neglect my wife and kids in the process.
ReplyDeleteLast Sunday, I was tired. My daughter had gone through the house looking for someone to go swimming with her. All of her brothers said NO, so she came to me. Guess what I said. You guessed it, NO. The water was too cold, I was tired, I had a meeting later in the day, etc. etc. etc. Her head fell and she went to the pool by herself. As she splashed around alone, the spirit of God nudged me to realize that there was something going on more than what could be seen and at that moment I was faced with a decision to follow God's leading. I got up, put my suit on, climbed on the roof of the garage and surprised my daughter by jumping in. I was right, It was FREEZING COLD. But radical obedience was offered to me in a small, seemingly insignificant way that my daughter will not soon forget.
I know that exact struggle. Isn't inconsiderate that they don't take what WE want to do into consideration? That's awesome that you were able to recover and step into that moment. I usually figure it out sometime the next day.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I agree with you that the small moments are what makes obedience radical. It's cheesy but it's true that character is what you do when no one is looking.
Once I was with a group of friends and my stomach started making strange sounds. I slipped away where no one was looking and released a bit "character."
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