03/28/2017
Today we are exploring our obedience to Jesus without questioning His instruction. We are looking at obeying Him without the need for us to weigh His guidance against our own desires.
Sometimes we receive a word from God and it isn't something easy or perhaps it is something we think is dangerous or would put us in a precarious position financially or even spiritually... so we question His motive or understanding. This doubt is nothing new.
“Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?”
John 11:7-8 KJV
Doubt, although not new is dangerous; it can place us in a position in which we are doing more than just asking for clarification... it tempts us to bargain with God. Let's read what Oswald Chambers says about obeying God... even during those times when we might fear for Him and His church.
"Are you debating whether to take a step in faith in Jesus or to wait until you can see how to do the thing yourself? Obey Him with glad reckless joy. When He says something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a conception of His honor which is not His honor. Are you loyal to Jesus or loyal to your notion of Him? Are you loyal to what He says, or are you trying to compromise with conceptions which never came from Him? "Do whatever he tells you."" - Oswald Chambers
"Do whatever He tells you," this is a phrase from the Bible, and specifically spoken by Mary. Jesus is about to turn water into wine, and she is telling the servants not to question Him or complain about what He asks them to do, but to "do it." She is letting them know that something beyond their understanding is about to happen. Something wonderful.
“His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”
John 2:5 KJV
When Jesus asks something of us, it is tempting to grouse about hauling the water, or whatever it is, but He asks nothing frivolous... something wonderful is about to happen. We might find ourselves challenged or even afraid, but if we step out in faith then the wonder that awaits us will become real in, and for, us.
I loved the Indiana Jones movies, they were wholesome, and so full of excitement. One of my favorites was 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.' In that movie Indy and his father were following clues to find the Holy Grail. Finally, they reach a place where they believe it to be, but they must face a number of deadly challenges where the clues which will lead them safely through are biblical in nature.
Indy solves the riddles and then finds himself standing at the edge of a deep chasm. On the far side is another entrance, but how will he get across? He recognizes it as a leap of faith... and with his father saying "you must believe" behind him, he steps out into thin air... to find that his faith has shown there to be a bridge where one couldn't be seen before. So he retrieves the Grail, saves his father, and I won't spoil the rest of the movie for you.
God often asks us to take that leap of faith. He wants us to step out into thin air with only His promise to support us. It is a very hard thing to do and goes against everything our physical lives have taught us... yet here we are, standing at the edge of a chasm with our Father behind us saying "you must believe." Will we take the step? Will we trust in Him when everything within us says it doesn't make sense? This is when we are tempted to question God... this is when we look at Jesus and are tempted to say "goest thou thither again?”
So what do we do when we face the chasm and must step out in faith? Do we take that step without reservation? Do we step out with beads of sweat all over our foreheads? Do we step out at all? The answer might await us , or for some it might have already been answered, but behind every step of faith comes another... so how will you answer the next challenge?
Prayer:
Father, build my faith, that I will always be prepared to step out when you call. Lord, give me the strength of faith, and the courage to climb out of the safety my life's boat Represents, and walk with you on the water... in unwavering faith. Never let me miss the wonder that awaits me on the far side of the chasm when you present me with a challenge or uncertainty. In you let me find courage; in you let me find my strength; in you let my faith abound; in you let my trust be firm, and in you let me experience the wonderful.
Rich Forbes