July 28th - After Obedience -- What? Mark 6:45-52
"We are apt to imagine that if Jesus Christ constrains us, and we obey Him, He will lead us to great success. We must never put our dreams of success as God's purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite... What we call the process, God calls the end... God's end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present: if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious."
I found myself having lived just a week at home searching for my purpose, for the reason that God had asked me to move back, when i read this. At the time it was the wrong excerpt for that day but somehow it found me and was what i needed to see. God has his own point in mind and it's not what follows the obedience but the obedience itself.
What is your version of success? Or your idea of where your obedience should take you?
I have found myself remembering Psalm 16:9 - The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
Thanks Oswald :]
oswald's mama must have known he was destined for greatness! :)
ReplyDeleteit's interesting how we can try to be manipulative (for lack of a better word) with our obedience at times. which really isn't obeying at all. like thinking that if i obey or do what He says, i'll get my own way in the end. but the Lord's ways are so high above my own! may we learn to really trust Him; believing what He says, following where He leads and obeying simply for the joy of pleasing the Father's heart! the rest is up to Him. thank you for sharing your heart, dear friend. love you so!