~ Obey ~
Isn't that a loaded word? It seems to have such a negative association with it. But here is what is great about the word when we use it in reference to being a follower of Christ...it gives us freedom! Hard to believe, isn't it? People will fail us. Disappointment will come from others and their decisions. Wrong will happen, either intentional or unintentional. These are the characteristics of a sinful people living in a sinful world. So where is the freedom? The freedom comes from the one we follow. He who is perfect and only wants the absolute best for us. When we make a choice to follow him, trusting his character and goodness, we are free from failure, disappointment and wrong. Our circumstances will not hold us back because we will not be defined by them. We will choose to live in the freedom of obedience to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Are you expecting freedom from your obedience challenge this week? How did it go?
For our group, it was a success, though not always the easiest and most comfortable things we've ever attempted to do. Some of us found it easy—offering their cabin to a group of people in need of temporary shelter. Others had to step more out of their comfort zone and risked possibly looking creepy—one group member tried to encourage a discouraged coworker of the opposite gender by giving them a cookie. After getting no response, who knows what the receiver of the cookie was thinking?? Another was challenged to spend time with coworkers she normally wouldn't speak with. Amazingly, she found it to be very encouraging to do that more often to build more relationships with others in her work. Some of us were called to fast and pray, and God showed up in eye-opening ways during that time.
ReplyDeleteGod spoke to us all and overall has encouraged us to continue to obey his promptings. We realize that it frees us from fear, insecurities, selfishness, and it allows us to love others as Christ loves us so deeply!