Obedience


I had some devotional time with the kids recently and the theme was obedience for children. We discussed 3 key elements:

a. obedience = obedience that is STRAIGHTAWAY
b. obedience = obedience that is done AS WELL AS YOU CAN
c. obedience = obedience that is WHAT GOD WANTS, NOT WHAT YOU WANT

I thought this was an excellent description of obedience and I made my kids memorize it - “straightaway”, “as well as you can” and “what God wants, not what I want”. 1 John 5:3a says “This is love for God: to obey his commands.” So we can't run away from it – if we say we love God, we demonstrate it by obeying his commands. Anything else, no matter how we try to rationalize it, means that we fail to love God. Interestingly, 1 John 5:3b goes on to say “And his commands are not burdensome.” Isn't God a wonderful God?

So today, take some time to internalise this.

Obedience is done STRAIGHTAWAY – when God speaks, through His word or through the advice or example of Godly family and friends, obey IMMEDIATELY. We expect it of our children, and God is entitled to expect it of us. Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Obedience is done AS WELL AS YOU CAN – anything that is worth doing, is worth doing well. We expect our children to study hard and do their chores wholeheartedly. God expects the same of us. So we aim for excellence in our secular work “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.” Colossians 3:22. This naturally extends to our family, our friends and our ministry as well. Our loved ones deserve our best, just as our work deserves our best when we are at work. And over ALL these things, God deserves our best.

Obedience is WHAT GOD WANTS, NOT WHAT WE WANT. As parents, we expect our children to do what we want. God deserves the same. But very often, we apply our own vain ambition and selfish desires to the choices before us, so that by the time we bring it before God, we've already made up our minds. This makes it very difficult for us to obey Him. Maybe it's a lucrative job offer that will cause you to be away from your family more than you should. Maybe it's time for an old friend in need, that you would rather spend at home. Maybe it's a temptation outside marriage. Maybe it's sticking up for a colleague in front of your boss. Jesus says his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matt 11:30). Trust him, that all things work for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Today, when I look at my kids and say “straightaway!” they remember what it means, and to their credit, they obey, so it really worked for me. Try this with your kids today, and apply it for yourself too – straightaway, as well as you can, and in accordance with God's will!

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