We all love the idea of coming to a loving God that will bless us abundantly. We get excited about all the good things God is going to do for us and look into the future to that awesome successful life is in front of us until… God demands something from us!
I’m not referring to those small little changes that we can easily accomplish. No, I’m talking about the big things, the sacrifices God demands from us from time to time. Those big changes, or those things we treasure and God tell us: Let it go! Let's talk about the bible character whose obedience leaves us speechless: Abraham!
From the first moment we are introduced to Abraham, the price of his obedience is high. Ridiculously high! From leaving the life he knows to venture into the unknown, to present his son as a sacrifice. His patience was also tested when he was promised a child and had to wait 25 years to see that miracle. The most incredible part of this story is not the price of God’s demands but the willingness of Abraham to obey!
Obedience can be a tough pill to swallow because we feel our independence is taken away from us. We need to let go of our ways to follow His ways. Sometimes we have a plan for our lives in mind and God comes and asks us to cancel all that and follow His lead. Sounds great until the one leaving everything behind is YOU.
We can face obedience in 2 ways. You can decide not to follow His voice and stick to your plan because your plan sounds better anyway or you can let go of your pride and your control and follow God’s instruction. For most of us, being obedient to God requires us to let go of the control we have over our lives. As humans, we have a fear of uncertainty. We love to know when and where right away and passing the steering wheel to God means you have no control and you are blindingly joining His plan.
I know, I get it! It is hard to let go and let God. But as the story of Abraham teaches us, the blessing that comes from obedience outgrows the chances taken with disobedience. When we chose our ways rather than Gods we are telling Him we don’t trust his plan. We don’t believe that he is sovereign and telling Him our plan is much better than His.
Being obedient hurts. I grew up in a very strict home and my obedience was always based on fear. When we obey because of fear only, we dread the process. It becomes a burden. We need to change our perspective about being obedient to God. Like I said I grew up with way too many rules. What happened? I rebelled. I want it to be independent and make my own decisions. I will not allow anybody to come and tell me what to do with my life. I carried that attitude through my life so you can imagine the shock when God required me to give up something for Him. I hit that wall hard. I chose to disobey Him many times and trust me I paid the price. The price of disobedience is way higher than surrender to God.
Romans 6:16 says: Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Don’t be a slave of this world and its ruler. Be obedient to the one that created you and has the best interest. This word only offers temporary pleasure, focus on the eternal.
IF you don’t believe me when I talk about consequences, look at the disobedience in the bible. Lot’s wife, the Israelites, etc. Consequences are not worth it.
If God is asking you to surrender something in obedience, do it even it doesn’t make sense to you. God's plan for you is bigger and better than yours. I know is hard, I know we try to rationalize it to our convenience but trust me. In the end, the rewards will outweigh the sacrifice. Stay obedient!
