Reluctant Obedience

When I ask my children to do a chore or to help me with a task it is usually done with reluctance. They may have been in the middle of a game or their favorite television show. They may have been preparing to go outside with friends or perhaps they were simply tired. They are obedient but it is a reluctant obedience. It is still an obedience of love because they don't argue with me or refuse to help, they just don't appreciate having to do it at that particular moment. It is still an act of love. Often we serve Jesus in the same attitude.

I would like to say it is the attitude of an immature heart but I can't. Almost everyone feels some reluctance when we get interrupted in what we were doing. Sometimes we call these things, usually people, interruptions but they are actually opportunities. It is often the Spirit saying "I need you to get involved in this". It isn't that were are disobedient but more unappreciative about the timing. We still do it, just not with great enthusiasm. Thankfully the blessing is found in the obedience regardless of the reluctance.

Peter experienced this same thing when one day Jesus gave him instructions. Jesus had gotten into Peter's fishing boat in order to speak better to the crowd that had gathered. A lake or pond is a great natural amplifier, carrying the voice clearly to everyone along the shore. Peter had been up all night fishing and was rather tired. I am sure he just wanted to get his nets cleaned and get a bit of sleep. But then Jesus told him to go out to the fishing area and do a bit more fishing. Talk about reluctance. Peter responded:

Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net. (Luke 5:5)

I always find it amazing how the Lord often reveals himself in the ordinary things of life. I am also amazed at the blessings that are found in obedience. Reluctant or not, obedience is obedience. It is far better to obey with a full heart and enthusiasm, but, at the end of the day, what matters is that we did it. Remember the parable of the two sons. One was told to do something and he told his father no, but later he changed his mind and did it. The second son said yes but never got around to doing it. Jesus said the first son was obedient even though he was reluctant. Back to Peter.

Peter did go out to the fishing ground and he did put his nets back in the water. The result was almost comical. Remember they spent all night fishing and caught nothing. They spent two minutes with Jesus and:

And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. (Luke 5:6-7)

Physical blessings in obedience. Jesus paid Peter back for allowing him use of the boat, but more importantly is the spiritual blessing he receive from his obedience:

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. (Luke 5:8-11)

Sometimes we don't realize it at first or we don't remember the results of the last time we obeyed but, if we do remember, we remember that Jesus reveals himself in our obedience. It is in our submission that we draw closer to him and he to us and the bond between us grows. There is renewal and revival in obedience. There is experiencing the presence of Father in obedience. Greater understanding is given, greater revelation. We feel alive.

We may not understand the things he has us walk through, experience or has us do; we may not understand why these things happen at this particular moment in our lives; we may not even understand the full implication of the results, but obedience matters. Obedience comes with benefits and blessings. We obey out of love not for benefits and rewards but nonetheless they are a natural product of our obedience. Even reluctant obedience is accepted and rewarded. Understand this:

Whoever has my commands and does them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father and I too will love him and show myself to him. (John 14:21)

Meditate on this verse today and see if the Spirit gives to you new revelation concerning obedience, even the reluctant kind.

Forget Not His Benefits

Who is your protector?

Who do you turn too when everything goes wrong? Who do you lean on for strength? Who listens to your complaints? From whom do you seek advice? Who or what is your rock? Your confidante? Your adviser?

Is it mom or dad? Maybe a teacher? An old friend? Perhaps a stranger? Maybe it is your own thoughts?

Perhaps it is your credit card that rescues you. Maybe a bank loans officer. A friend with deep pockets. A loving parent.

We would like to say it is Jesus. We would like to say it is our Father. We would like to say with David:

You, Lord God,
    are my protector.
    Rescue me and keep me safe
    from all who chase me.
2 Or else they will rip me apart
like lions
    attacking a victim,
    and no one will save me. (Psalm 7:1-2)

We should have this same realization, that without our Father we are lost. We should have this same realization, that he is the only one who can help us. We should know the promises he has made and his faithfulness to keep them. We should. But when we are facing those things that "chase" us, it is often easier to grasp something a little more tangible. But that doesn't stop our Father from rescuing us or providing for us.

The other day I was talking things over with Jesus in the shower. It is one of our common talking places. I was doing most of the talking. Well, more imploring. I was pointing out certain financial situations and the fact that I was powerless in the situation and needed his help. In the middle of my long discourse he interrupted me.

The interruption came more in the form of a clear realization than in a sentence. He pointed out how our Father was looking after those situations. Money from an unexpected source paid certain bills and a gift of $100 covered the babies birthday cake and present. How had I missed that? I had excepted the provision without thought and without pause in my complaints. The realization was quite the reproach and I quickly repented of my ungrateful heart.

That's when I realized I was losing my Kingdom eyes. God was overly active in my life and I was missing it. I was not able to see his hand whereas I had seen his hand on my life for years. Something had distracted me. Something had taken my eyes from the things above and fixed them on the things around me. The wonder of God was fading and I was losing my dependence.

Without God I am a lost soul on route to my destruction. With him, but without dependence on him, I am saved but making things so much harder on myself. I have to face every foe on my own, climb mountains that should leap at my command, find strength from where ever I can find it, provide my own provision, heal my diseases myself. Am I crazy? Why would I do that when my Father has promised to look after me? Why or how could I forget the benefits of being a child of my Father:

Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:1-5)

This is why Jesus told us time and again to trust our Father with everything we need, to ask our Father for anything we need. But instead we run to our credit cards or seek out friends. Crazy!

We say we love God because he loves us but then we do not take advantage of his love, generosity, kindness and compassion. Do we not understand that it pleases him to respond to his children? It pleases him when we ask. It pleases him to pour out his blessings on us and often he does it whether we are paying attention or not. But then we become  ungrateful kids, and we all know what we think of ungrateful kids.

I am repenting of my stupidity right here and right now. I refuse to forget about all his benefits. He intended us to have a relationship of trust, to have a carefree attitude, to be possessed by love, joy and peace. The only way I don't have these things is when I am looking for another provider, another protector. But I am not doing that any more. I am satisfied with my God because he is my God. I will trust him, lean on him, run to him, hide beneath his wing, embrace him in the dark and delight in all the good things he has for me. He is faithful. He is my God.