Obedience First

Pastor John,

Hearing these last two days about a young person’s situation has brought this to mind.

Twenty years ago the Lord put it on my heart to tell a person in my family who had the holy Ghost that they were living contrary to the will of God and that they needed to change what they were doing. Jesus let me know I would be offering whatever I had in the form of earthly goods to help that person as they needed it—if they would just obey Jesus. I was happy to do that because whatever I had was the Lord’s. Jesus also let me know that I could not offer that help until the person had yielded to the will of God.

This person in my family was in a tough spot to be sure, and what God was requiring of them was scary. But relief was there; it was hidden behind the door of obedience.

That was not my choice but by God’s design.

I arrived that day and I delivered the message from Jesus to my family member just as I was supposed to, and I was eager to help them as God had instructed me.  The person heard me out and even confessed that all I had said was true.  But ultimately chose to stay their course, asking me in the end, “What am I supposed to do if I make the change?”  I don’t know the exact words I told them, but I do recall telling them that the outcome didn’t matter.  We don’t obey God because of the outcome—that is His business.

They chose their path – and I left for home.  Little did they know that day that God their creator had their answer waiting just as soon as they stepped out in faith.  But they had to step out first!  I guess it is kind of like stepping out into thin air when there is no visible stepping stone.  Obeying God sometimes can feel like stepping on nothing and trusting Him.

All the way home that day and for many days after, like a trumpet sounding in my heart, I heard: “First the obedience, then the relief.”  Over and over that played in my heart until I believe it was permanently etched inside.

We don’t obey God because of the results it brings.  Sometimes it might hurt.  We don’t serve Him to be saved or to have a better life; that is His business.  We serve Him because of Who he is, and because of who we are.  And the Spirit in us says, “YES.”

Jerry