You Don't Have to Agree, You Don't Have to Understand...You Just Have to Obey

I have a daughter who contends with nearly every command; she doesn't like to be told what to do--no compliant child here.  Constantly the negotiator, she has actually said these very words, "Mom, I think I know better than you what to do." Perhaps you'd laugh and say, "Sure, I've had my child say that too."  But, is your child seven?

Today--like so many other days--I challenged her to respect authority, "You don't have to agree; you don't even have to understand. You just have to obey."

Again, on the way home, I found myself reverting to lecture mode, discussing the various "practical" points of the home's hierarchy. "You aren't in charge. We are. It's God. Mom and Dad. And then you. You need to do what we say; that's where you will find the most fulfillment, joy, peace. Disobedience will only lead to chaos and dissatisfaction and a lack of purpose. You'll make yourself miserable and everyone else too... It's really not that complicated. Just do as we say." (Yes, I realize my discourse may have been a little "over the head" for her 5- and 3-year-old brothers).

As I'm talking, I'm not actually hearing myself.
Not that complicated, huh? Just do as you are told.
You don't have to agree.
You don't have to understand.
Just obey.

But, do I acknowledge those simple truths in my own relationship with authority--the Ultimate Authority?  When God tells me to do something in His Word, do I scoff, "That doesn't make sense. Why should I do that?" OR "I don't think that's the best course, God. This path looks better to me."

In Bible study this week, Priscilla Shirer pulled in Luke 5, a passage that shows the fishermen and their defeat. They've been fishing all night and have caught nothing. Late morning and Jesus shows up on the scene. He tells them to "put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch" (vs. 4).

To Peter this idea didn't make any sense. Shirer pointed out that, according to scholars, the best fishing on the Sea of Galilee was at night, not during the day (as it then was).  And fish were caught in shallower waters, not out in the deep. So, Jesus' directive didn't line up with Peter's feelings, experience, or understanding, but then we have this incredible line of faith from Peter, "But because you say so, we will..." (Luke 5:5).

Likewise, Abram was told to pick up and leave (Gen. 12, Hebrews 11). God didn't tell him where, He didn't tell why it was necessary but He did promise to be with Abram and bless him.  Later the Lord commanded Abraham to take his only son and sacrifice him on an altar.  Did that make sense? Surely Abraham couldn't understand--or agree--with God's directive to kill his only inheritance. But, Abraham obeyed.

Do God's directives always seem so illogical? Of course not. Our God is a God of order, not chaos or confusion. Still, it's important to remember our finite understanding in comparison with our all-knowing, eternal Father. In light of His knowledge, our comprehension is minuscule, at best.  To say that "we get it" is arrogant, if not outright idolatrous. He knows the best course; we show our wisdom when we follow.

Personally, I've wanted to get to a place where it was necessary for God to do something extra-ordinary in my life.  Not because I was into wowing the crowd around me or proving my worth as a believer, but because I want my life to be more a testament to what He is doing than merely what I'm capable of doing on my own. I want to reflect the Lord's power, not just my own human attempts. When you look at the lives of believers in the 1st century (Acts), you see lives magnified by truth, equipped by the Spirit's power, and changed by the Lord's work. They were doing things that only God could do, and everyone could see that.

"A sure sign of the Holy Spirit's working is that Christ is magnified, not people. When the Holy Spirit truly moves, God is the one praised. Jesus is the one lifted up. When the Spirit moved at Pentecost, people knew there was a power present that came from God. That's why they didn't leave saying, 'John is amazing! He learned a new language in a matter of seconds!' They knew it had to be God. Let's pray that God would empower us so radically that we would get no glory. That people would see our works and glorify God" (Forgotten God, Francis Chan 87).

It's important to ask the Lord, "What do you have for me today...right now?"  Being such a forward-thinker, I often translate God's will through a futuristic scope, "Next year, I'll..." or "When the kids are older, we can..."  But how does He want me to obey right now? What purposes has He placed in front of me today, this very moment?

"...to expose our hearts to truth and consistently refuse or neglect to obey the impulses it arouses is to stymie the motions of life within us and, if persisted in, to grieve the Holy Spirit into silence."
--A. W. Tozer

I don't want to be a believer who says "I believe that He will hold me up," but I never prove it by my actions. I want to walk forward in obedience, even if the only thing I see in my future path is Him. My life isn't sustained by the size of my faith but the size of my God. It is the Object of my faith that I propel my actions toward. He is the One I chase after and He is the One that will do a mighty work. Let us not diminish what He is capable of doing in and through us; may we open up our hearts to fully embrace His influence.  May we just obey. And then see what He will do!

Today, I just need to be thankful...

So, I'm taking the opportunity to publicly do what often feels like a begrudging task--just being honest. I know thankfulness increases joy and lessens frustration. Gratitude garnishes peace and restores perspective...and yet, I'm often reluctant to just sit and thank.

Why?

Because there's so much still to do... Because there's so much to change, improve, accomplish...
Because gratitude feels final in some ways, like I'm letting God off the hook to answer what I desperately want (healing, answers to questions, wisdom for parenting, direction, etc.). "After all, don't get any ideas that I'm too content here, God. I still need you to see to these things on my list...and the sooner the better." Seriously. Just being honest about my ugly sometimes. And yes, I realize how outrageously absurd this attitude is. It's rebellious, disrespectful, entitled, and self-absorbed. It diminishes what the Lord has done and continues to do and instead channels my inner complainer by whining, "What now?" Am I really telling Him, "It's never enough?" REally? Is He even LORD at that point?

If He never "blessed" me again. If He took everything and left me nothing but my eternal security, would I have anything to say but "bless Your Holy Name"?

The most challenging aspect of our relationship lately hasn't been the various speed-bumps I've hit the last two months: it's been His seeming silence. I say "seeming" because it appears that He isn't talking to me, but perhaps I just don't have my ears tuned to hear. And yet, even if He was taking me through a desert season of quiet, would I be faithful to trust Him in that silence? Do I deserve the Almighty God to regularly converse with me whenever I scream? Do I demand He talk/answer when I expect?

So, today--despite the many frustrations--I am turning towards the blessings of His allowances and benefits.

 I'm thankful for
... a warm home on a rainy day...
....the opportunity to work from home and focus uninterrupted (thanks to Grandmom every Monday afternoon).
...the patience to teach my children to read. Landon read his own "congratulation" card and finished up his reading book this past week. Two down, one to go!

 ...for Lego messes scattered throughout the house--evidence of quality time going on with Daddy and kids.
...the creativity that generates from my three very different children.
...upcoming birthday celebrations--life.
...online Christmas shopping.
...working washing machine and dryer.
...hot water.
...fall decorations.

I'm thankful for...
encouraging friends at small group.
challenging words from my pastor.
evidence of God at work.
hope for the future.

15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:15-18

Not Lacking Anything

This morning, I watched Soul Surfer at Mom and Dad's house. Always a sap for an inspirational movie, I loved it. But more than the movie, I loved Bethany's heart--her perseverance, determination, strength, and faith. When it was over, I commented to Mom, "I hope my kids have that kind of attitude when they grow up." My mom replied with, "I hope I can be that way when I grow up." Her response struck me, because I too felt convicted about how my attitude often reflects anything but the fruit of perseverance. In many ways I'm far from mature. Frequently, my attitude is one of fear and self-absorbed pity. And I'd just as soon give up than push harder.

When the shark chomped off Bethany's arm, the surfer was only 13-years-old. She lost nearly 60% of her blood, and her life was touch and go for awhile. But her and her mother had been praying that God would use her life for great things, and He certainly has. Her experience has brought her name and story into so many homes, testifying to the powerful and loving name of Jesus Christ.

Looking back at a few of my childhood experiences (ruptured appendix at 14), benign breast tumor as a teenager, and various normal ups and downs, I shamefully acknowledge that I did not "let perseverance finish its work so that I would be mature and complete" (James 1:4). I would whine, complain, ask the inevitable "why me?" and demand that God "deliver me." How pitiful. How sad. How arrogant.

To waste an opportunity to allow pain to bring about glory. And my "tests" where so minuscule compared to what many children endure. I've never lost a close loved one, dealt with chronic illness, or any other such tragedy. And still, despite all the blessings, my maturity has come about a little slower, and I've put up more of a fight. In fact, I'm still much, much further from where I'd someday like to be.

But what encourages is me is that God understands we are dust (Ps. 103:14) and He patiently challenges us and refines us with the level of heat we can handle. My goal is to keep growing closer to Him so that heat's intensity means little and little. And someday, as my gaze is fixed on him, my life will speak of His love, strength, and faithfulness.

It's Here!

This weather makes me jubilant! Surely heaven won't be far off from this temperature. My daughter and I paired up with another mom and baby for a nice walk around the schools and subdivision this morning. It was so cool that we needed jackets... jackets! Who would have thought it two weeks ago?
Thank you, Lord, for the faithfulness of seasons--a reminder of your faithfulness and consistency toward us.