Why does it seem to take so much energy or courage to be obedient to the voice of God? It seems that some of the instructions He gives are not easy to comply with and we try to cut a deal with God. ‘If you can let me do it this way instead, I promise I will pray more tomorrow.’ ‘If I can give them a handshake instead of a hug, I promise I will put a little more in my offering.’ ‘How about I don’t call that person today but tell them Sunday that I was thinking about them? That would be good enough right?’
Why is it that we try to get around the things that God instructs us to do? Is it because of fear of rejection? Could it be that maybe we are not confident within ourselves that we truly know the voice of God?
Why do we put the cost of our obedience so high?
What was the real cost paid for obedience? Mark 14:34 – 36 tells us the cost that was paid for obedience. Jesus knew why He had been sent, what His purpose was and He was obedient to the point of His death. Verse 34 shows the intense emotion that Jesus felt, (NASB) ‘My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death…’ even in that state, He did not stray from the will of God. Verse 36 shows that the thought crossed his mind but He followed it by saying, ‘yet not what I will, but what you will’. How many times are we presented with a difficult task and we just do our will? We don’t even acknowledge the fact that we are taking our own path. We figure God understands, that was too much for me anyway.
Think of what and where we would be if Jesus had decided the cost of His obedience was too much. The cost of His obedience was the cross. The cost of our individual acts of obedience may be discomfort or possible rejection but do you know the payoff? A soul may come to know Christ. A life may be saved. Will you be the one to say, ‘Yes Lord, Your will be done in my life. Use me as an example. Use me as Your hands, Your touch, and Your voice to someone who cannot hear You right now?’
Is the price we pay to be obedient higher than the ultimate price that Jesus paid?
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