Find Us Obedient

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:10-11 NIV

A guest speaker, a Missionary from Africa, asked a very compelling question to our church congregation, “If God comes looking for you today, will He find you in obedience?”

Sometimes God lets us have our way, even when it is out of disobedience to show us that we don’t always know best. In 1 Samuel, the people wanted King Saul instead of a king that God anointed. King Saul was rejected by God for having no regard for the Lord’s will and being disobedient. God gave him a specific command, to destroy the Amalekites and everything that belongs to them. But Saul brought back the best of the sheep and cattle and said it was for a sacrifice to God. God did not want King Saul’s sacrifice over obedience. The Lord gave him clear instructions, destroy everything. King Saul simply did not obey. And because of his disobedience, the kingdom was taken from him and God now had the scene set for King David to come in.

In stark contrast to King Saul, David was found being obedient. With the direction of the Lord, Samuel then went to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next King. After seeing all seven of Jesse’s son and not one of them being the chosen one, and exasperated Samuel asked, “…Are these all the sons you have?”(1 Samuel 16:11). Jesse replied in the remainder of verse 11, “There is still a youngest….but he is tending sheep.” There was David, in the place of obedience. Tending the sheep like a good Sheppard boy. He had no idea how God would use his obedience as a Sheppard in the years to come.

God was training David, even in the fields tending sheep, for what God’s ultimate will would be. It was through defending the sheep from lions and bears that David killed Goliath. It was in those times that David was able to grow in his private relationship with the Lord. And the Lord used David in a mighty way very publicly.

We all know that David was not perfect. He certainly had his share of times walking out of disobedience to God’s will. We are not perfect either and there are certainly times we tend to walk away from God’s direction. Some run, like Jonah did, in the opposite direction. Others walk slowly away. Still others, choose to be obedient in most areas and disobedient in one. Either way, anything less that total obedience is disobedience.

After the service, many commented that the message spoke to them. It did to me. My private time with the Lord is the most important thing I can invest time in to know where God is calling me to be obedient. Still, I falter every day, in one form or another.

The missionaries that spoke at our church all had similar prayer requests. While many of them are waiting for their opportunity to go to the country they are called, they asked for prayer to remain faithful and obedient to God now. They asked for prayer to not be anxious and excited because they want to be in that country now. They asked to be obedient in the waiting. Sometimes we are simply tending sheep and waiting for the next stage in our life. No matter what we are doing or where God is calling, let us be able to answer the question YES! When God comes looking for us, we are being obedient to Him – here and now.

Dear Lord, Thank you that your mercies are new everyday. Thank you that you sent Jesus as the sacrifice four our unfaithfulness and disobedience. Thank you that Jesus is the promise of forgiveness and the grace to go on in the steps of our mistakes. Please make your will and your path clear that we may walk in your perfect will everyday. Lord, let those who come behind us, find us faithful and obedient to You. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

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