Thought for Tuesday, October 23rd

October 23, 2012

Obedience School for Christians

“God’s laws last longer than those who break them.”

-       Anonymous

  And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:22

Parents desire obedience from their children.  And sometimes it is achieved, while at other times it is not.

Pet owner’s desire obedience from their pets: hence some even send them to obedience school to be trained.

Boss’ want their employees to comply with their directives and to meet their expectations: which is a form of desiring obedience.

But more importantly God wants His children to follow the teaching, guidelines and directives of His word: which is also a desire for obedience.

Yet, many of us just like employees with bosses or children with parents try to circumvent direct obedience by making some other sacrifice or appearance of sacrifice when it comes to our obedience to God.

Rather than give of our time and talents to the service of God’s work, we will put an extra few dollars in the offering plate.  Now understand there is nothing wrong with putting extra offerings into the plate; but it is not a fit substitute for working for the Lord.

Or maybe we will volunteer for some one time project rather than commit to a ministry that will require continued time, effort and energy from us.  Hence we try to tell God we are making a sacrifice for His kingdom.

God doesn’t buy it: He is not into excuses or seeming sacrifices in lieu of outright obedience.

God has an obedience course for His children and the text book is the Bible.  But, sadly too many of us don’t ever open the cover, so we sometimes aren’t or at least try to pretend that we don’t know what the instructions and expectations are.

It is great to make sacrifices for others, especially for God: but remember this even though Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins: it was obedience to His Father’s will that took Him to the cross.

Today’s Prayer

Father, keep me willing to make sacrifices for You as well as others: but may I never be guilty of attempting to substitutes an act of sacrifice for a lifestyle of obedience.

“Purify my heart

Let me be as gold

And precious silver

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from within

And make me holy

Refiner’s fire

My hearts one desire

Is to be holy

Set apart for You my Master

Ready to do your will.“

-  Lyrics from ‘Refiner’s Fire’ by Brian Doerksen