Obedience Is Costly, Pt.1

We can’t stay where we are and go with God. We cannot do things based on our knowledge and follow God at the same time. We must adjust our lives to God, His purposes, and His ways to do the will of God. Obedience is in fact costly to us and those around us too. We need to pay the price of the adjustment and obedience to fulfill God’s purposes. We usually assume that God will fulfill our plans and never ask us to change anything but that is a wrong way of thinking. We will have to make major adjustments in our lives when God invites us to join Him in His work. Only obedience would reveal that we were doing God’s will. The most costly thing we need to pay while following God is to remain faithful to Him with a heart full of love toward others.

Today’s reading was really powerful and also pretty scary. Opposition is a given when following Gods will, but to hear examples of how even Christians can be so opposed to church growth is shocking to me. The adjustments we’re asked to make are also what we’re willing to put up with. Reading Paul’s account of his trials is always crazy. He went through so much and essentially says he’d do it again for God. I pray that we have that same sort of bravery and perspective in our own lives and troubles.

From Charlie

We must change and adjust our lives to go with God and be obedience. I have been thinking about that for the past week and I wonder if what I fear is just the fear of the unknown. And what I fear is fear of being asked to do something completely open ended that could hurt those I love. I think though, that maybe that fear is unreasonable. To those I love, if they are deserving of my love, would love me in return and would understand my sacrifices and would be supportive of it.

In the story of Bob Pierce, it is no doubt that his relationship with his family suffered and perhaps he could have done better to support his family and have a more loving relationship with his children even while serving God. I don’t think God would want his time so much that He would not allow Bob to return home to care for his sick daughters. I wonder if Bob didn’t let his own pride and zeal caused him to do more than what God really asked. But in the end, his children and his wife didn’t abandoned him. It is his own pride and personal fault that punished him in the end.

I think that if our own earthly family who are flawed can find love and forgiveness and can be supportive of our calling, then how much more would God love us and be supportive of us. We love him and we obey but if we pray and ask He would not be so cruel a master who would not want us to also love for and care for those we love. Even human bosses would do as much so why would we think God would do less.

Finally, the kind of adjustment and sacrifices that Henry Blackaby talked about in this book seem quite earthly and trivial to me to be honest. If those are the level of sacrifices that Henry thinks is major then they don’t seem so harsh to me. I have had to make adjustment in my life to seek God. I don’t watch as much TV or play my games or read fictions. I don’t have much leisure times anymore. I don’t spend as much time with Teri in the evening. I spend more time to read about God and to learn to know Him. To have a relationship with Him. I’m sure Teri and the kids would like more of my time but they are supportive of my journey

I think my adjustments and sacrifices are already beginning and I feel that God is helping me to make these adjustments slowly and therefore easier over time. Baby steps.

Thank you Father for these small steps. I think You are always loving and kind and though You are asking for adjustments they are not so onerous as it might seem. I seek to know you better day by day and I am so grateful for Your loving guidance.