Obedience part 4
I think Jeremiah 42:6 (NLT) says it as simply as it can be said: "Whether we like it or not, we will obey the LORD our God to whom we are sending you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us." Obedience is a trust issue. If we believe that God knows the end from the beginning, and knows the best way to get us to where we need to go, we will obey Him--whether we like it or not. Whether it seems "good" or not. I think we put ourselves through a lot of pain and suffering because we always want to go our own way. Be the captain of our own ship. Be in control. When what we need to do is, "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honeored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world" (Psalm 46:10 NLT). There's a way that seems right to a man, right? And that's the way we always think we should go, and that's the way we always try to go. But the end thereof is death. Because JESUS is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Way to the Father. The Truth about the Father. The Life of the Father. No man comes to the Father but through Him. That's our expected end--community and relationship with our heavenly Father. And we don't get it by running around like a chicken with its head cut off. We don't get it by trying really hard to get it. We get it by being still and knowing that He is God. We get it by resting in the loving arms of our heavenly Father. We get it by obeying Him. By knowing that whatever He tells us to do... that is the best possible thing to do. Especially when you consider that the only thing He ever tells us to do... is love. Love thy neighbor. Love the Lord your God with all your mind, body, soul, and strength. It's all about love. What else could the God who IS love possible expect us to do? Or want us to do? He loves us so that we can love Him back by loving each other. That's the New Commandment. That's what we're supposed to obey. And, yes, I get it. Sometimes it doesn't seem "fair" for us to treat people that way. We've referenced Jonah. He had a different idea of justice than God's idea of mercy. But when we do it God's way... it turns out right. The trick, and the key, is getting rid of our own preconceived notions. They're almost always misconceptions anyway. You very rarely know the whole story. So stop judging by appearance and start judging righteous judgment. Get off your high horse and stop thinking you know everything about everything. And, yes, we do have an unction from the Holy Spirit and we know all things (1 John 2:20). But that doesn't necessarily mean we understand everything we know. I'm telling you, what the world needs is love. What every person and every situation needs... is love. So instead of trying to jam a square peg into a round hole... we need to be able to just love people. Love them just the way they are. Obey God. And this is so key--LISTEN to God. We seem to think praying is talking to God, and convincing Him to see things--and do things--our way. It's not. It's listening to that still, small voice so that we can know how to love each other the way we need to be loved. Paying attention to people. Seeing a need and meeting it. When you get a "God idea" (from the mind of Christ that is already in you), listen to it. And don't just listen, put your money where your mouth is. Let the love that is inside you come out. That's what God commands, and that's how we obey. It's all about love. God is love. He wants us to love. That's why He first loved us. He gave us the love that we need to share with each other. All we have to do is receive it and release it. Breathe it in and breathe it out. Let God love us and love Him back by loving each other!