What are the limits to your obedience? I think most of us would answer,
“There are no limits! Whatever God asks of me, I will do.”
As I enter those words here I hear the apostle, Peter, saying to Jesus, “I will lay down my life for you” within 24 hours of his denial of knowing Jesus three times (John 13).
We would all have to agree with Jesus’ comment, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26) What is easy to commit to in our minds is always harder to actually do!
So, what are the limits to your obedience? What risks are you hesitant to take on?
- No or limited internet – separation from friends and family
- Difficult climate – discomfort
- Difficult language – humbling, feeling disconnected
- Unsafe location – lack of personal or family safety
- Singleness – a lifetime without a spouse
- Sharing your faith – fear of rejection or persecution
A young, rich and influential man came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to receive eternal life. Jesus responded with keeping the law. The man says he has kept the law his entire life. So far, so good, though we would probably all have doubts about his honesty because we know we can’t keep the law! Then Jesus added, “Sell all you have and give it to the poor and then come and follow me.” The man walked away because he was rich (Mark 10).
Jesus highlighted the risk the young man was not willing to take – the condition to his obedience.
There is no room for judgment here. We all have risks we cannot move beyond, even us missionary types. My wife likes to say, “We all have expectations we do not know…until they are not met.”
Join me in asking God to help us lay down our fear, our hesitations and our expectations on the altar of obedience.
After all, loving Jesus is obeying Jesus.