Immediate Obedience

When I was younger my mom’s infamous line was “immediate obedience”.

This meant do not hesitate, think, prepare a comeback, or ask for 5 more minutes. It meant MOVE. Get to action. Do not think just do.

If we didn’t the consequences were severe.

Looking back a request to obey was always for my good or safety. It made me uncomfortable or made life inconvenient for me. But good things happened whenever I did obey and respond with immediate action.

Life with God is much the same.

He says obey and we should immediately. I’ve learned this the hard way at times. My very rebellious nature kicks in much like it did in my preteen years and I hesitate, counter offer, resist, or just delay my response time to suit myself.

This negative response to God when he asks us to obey is lethal. We sit in disobedience and spoil and rot. The request becomes deluded. Allowing the enemy to sneak in and make us question what we heard in the first place.

“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.” James 1:22 Msg

We remain in the middle of the road and the semi truck runs us over.
We don’t step out and miss something God has for us.
We get burned because we didn’t remove ourselves from an unhealthy situation.

Obedience brings life. Disobedience death.

Obedience is an essential base of our relationship with God.

Do we really love him if we don’t obey?

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15

What are we really saying if we don’t choose God over ourselves?

Yikes! That even hurts to write. Thinking back to my own actions lately I can see where hesitations have hurt me. Why do we hesitate when we serve such a good God who loves us so very much? One who designed us with purpose and intention. He has our best in mind. Let's obey him today in whatever areas he is prompting us to.

Overcome by Love

Love is a powerful emotion. It is something that can do incredible things. It tears the veil between people. When you love people it allows you to see past numerous flaws, issues, problems, and offences that typically would separate you from them.

I have had this deep conviction lately that my love needs to grow. My fuse has been short. My patience and grace on the thinner side.

The other day Jesus had His way and grew my heart and its capacity to love. Sort of like in the movie the Grinch.  The part where his heart grew...

“And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say - that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day. And then - the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of *ten* Grinch’s, plus two!”

To get biblical about it here is a great example of how our love should be in regards to God, our friends, coworkers and really anyone in our lives.

“My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God. Pray about everything. I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn’t want his children holding grudges. And, oh, yes, Syzygus, since you’re right there to help them work things out, do your best with them. These women worked for the Message hand in hand with Clement and me, and with the other veterans—worked as hard as any of us. Remember, their names are also in the book of life. Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them...” (Philippians 4 Msg)

A love like Christ’s is essential. We cannot do anything without it. Our love isn’t enough. And to be honest it can’t be, we love because Jesus first loved us. It’s impossible to love without Him. We each need fresh outpourings of his love if we want to accomplish anything, if we want to be on each other’s side, if we want to change the world, if we want to see heaven on earth. Love pierces through this tattered and worn world. It makes the broken beautiful. It takes our junk and turns it into treasured testimonies.

My heart had a beautiful Holy Spirit encounter the other day and it filled me up with love. My heart grew and I suddenly had even more of the tremendous power of Christ working in me. I got his perspective and the true purpose and meaning of things become clear.

This all happened at a conference this weekend with over 500 college students. I love college students. They are a huge part of my life. I have the honor of ministering to them as a Campus Missionary. This weekend I was blown away with how much He grew my love for them. I looked out at faces I didn’t know. Then at ones I did. I looked at my friends and fellow missionaries. My heart swelled at the mere thought of what God was doing in their lives. They made up a group that has the potential to change the world. Jesus loves them so much. He has great plans for them. I wanted them all to know I was on their side. Working with Jesus to break chains and gain tremendous victories in their lives.

They are world changers and I can’t imagine choosing any other group of people to do life with. These people may not be perfect and working with broken and fallen people can make my job messy, but love covers. Love makes everything worth it. Love puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end (1 Corinthians 13:3-7 Msg).

Love overcomes.