Obedience (Blog Carnival)

When Peter Pollock suggested a blog carnival, I thought it was a fabulous idea! When he decided to use the “One Word at a Time” theme, I was excited and flattered. Then the word was suggested…‘Obedience’…um, really?

Once the idea of obedience as the topic had a chance to sink in…and I stopped toying with thoughts of a mutiny…I began to embrace it and this is what came to mind…

When I consider what obedience means, I instantly think of when I was a child. I believe most of us, whether raised by ‘believing’ parents or not, were told that the Bible says we must honor our father and mother. “Little Johnny…God says you have to listen to me.” (Sound familiar?)

Eph. 6:1-2 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—”

In my opinion, many parents tackle this objective by demanding their children obey. I’m not sure about other moms, but this strategy doesn’t seem to work for me. I can insist they do what I say all day long, but in the end my kids learn by example, not simply from being ordered to do something. What an extreme privilege AND burden this is for a parent to bear. It makes me tremble in my boots, (cute ones, of course) when I realize what a huge responsibility this truly is.

If kids learn from our actions…what am I doing to ‘show’ mine that I’m obedient? What are they actually observing in my day-to-day life…aside from what they hear me ‘say’ is the right thing to do?

What would be even more terrifying is if God approached His children in this same manner! What if He demanded we obey, yet gave us no example to follow, and showed us no grace?

1Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Several years ago, I was asked to consider volunteering at our Welcome Table at church. This was so far out of my comfort level that I avoided responding for a very long time. Eventually, the woman who regularly ran the table (and really wanted to be done), cornered me and told me all I had to do was set out some brochures, and say “hi” if anyone walked by.

It seemed simple enough, and I knew it was the right thing to do, so I agreed. Within a few months we had developed a new ministry…”The Host Team”…which I served on and was in charge of for more than 5 years. This ministry became a passion of mine…I loved getting the chance to ‘touch’ someone each and every week as they entered the doors. It made me grow and stretch in ways I would have fought tooth and nail to avoid under normal circumstances! It changed my life, and obviously was completely out of my control.

If I had continued to ignore this simple request and not been obedient, several relationships may not have developed, and many stories I will cherish for a lifetime, wouldn’t have existed.

Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Why is it that when we’re asked to be obedient, our first inclination is to run the other way? Should we act like disobedient children when faced with going outside of our own comfort zones? Is this the lesson we want to teach our children…the example we want to set for those God has strategically placed in our lives?

The desire to be defiant is great, but the rewards we reap from being obedient are endless…

My mother always taught me… “actions speak louder than words!” I think this applies to each and every one of us on a multitude of levels…we need to live a life where we don’t just talk the talk…it’s imperative that we walk the walk!

Tagged as: Children, God, Obedience, Obey, Parents, Rewards, Service