I love to read. In fact, I always have. When I was younger, I would become so absorbed in reading that I could sit reading for hours without getting up or changing activities.
My daughter Ellie is like that with computer games. She has certain sites she is allowed to visit and certain games she is allowed to play. She could sit for hours playing games, if allowed to, or maybe all day long.
One day, Ellie was sitting at the computer playing games when it so happened that Jessica needed her diaper changed. As I laid Jessica on the changing table, I remembered that her diaper stacker was empty of diapers. Fortunately, however, I had bought some more, and the box was right outside the bedroom door, which meant that it was in the computer area.
I called out to Ellie and asked her to bring me the package.
“Okay,” Ellie said.
I assumed she was coming, so I removed Jessica’s diaper and cleaned her up. I still didn’t see Ellie, so I called her name and looked in her direction.
Ellie was slowwwwly backing towards the bedroom door, her eyes still fixed on the computer screen.
She was obeying, but at her own speed.
I wanted her to obey me right away. The task I had asked her to do was important, even though it probably seemed like no big deal to her. I needed her to act immediately.
Instead, she took indifferent, slow action.
Friends, that’s the way we obey God sometimes, isn’t it?
At our own speed. Indifferently. Slowly.
Maybe when God gave the command, we responded instantly by saying, “Yes, Lord. I’ll do it.” But we remained caught up in our own interests, and the obedience we gave the Lord was distracted, at best.
Mommy friend, what kind of obedience do you want from your children when you ask them to obey?
Around our house, we have a saying that pertains to the kind of obedience my husband and I expect: “immediately, and with the right attitude”. You probably expect the same thing.
If we as parents believe that we can and should expect that kind of obedience from our children, how much better obedience must we acknowledge that God deserves?
And how much farther short of rendering him proper obedience must we acknowledge that we fall, even than our children fall short of obeying us properly?
Friends, we discipline our children for failing to obey promptly.
Do you realize that God disciplines His children for the same reason?
His ultimate goal is to conform us to the image of His Son Jesus. He knows that it isn’t good for us to determine the speed at which we will obey. We must learn to obey “immediately, and with the right attitude” for two reasons. First, He’s God, and He deserves it, and that should be reason enough. But second, we must learn to obey because it is good for us. If even Jesus learned to obey while here on earth, then why would we ever imagine ourselves to be less in need of learning to do so?
I wanted Ellie to obey me not only because I needed something done, but also because I know that she needs to learn to recognize my requests as more important than what she is doing, and to put them first.
It’s true that sometimes, I will make mistakes, perhaps even erring in how, where, when, or why I require her obedience.
But God never errs. Ever.
We know—you know, I know—that whatever God asks is right and good. Therefore, we should obey immediately, and with the right attitude.
It’s as simple as that.
Simple…but not easy. It’s not always easy to obey. But God even helps us do that. He gives us everything we need to perform that which He requires us to do. If we don’t obey, it isn’t His fault.
It’s ours.
Today, are your eyes fixed on God, waiting for His command? Or are they focused on your own pursuits?
Are you so deeply involved in whatever you’re involved in that it would be amazing if you even managed to hear God’s command, and to respond with a yes, much less to respond in a timely fashion?
Or maybe you hear God just fine. Maybe you know exactly what He’s saying. Maybe you’re just not willing to do it, or you’re too busy to do it, or you don’t care about doing it, so you let your own interests crowd out your obedience.
Oh, friend, if this is your situation, don’t waste another second. Get on your knees right now and ask Him to forgive you. Get things straightened out between you and God. Make sure both of you know Who’s in charge, and that it’s not you.
Then, get up and obey. Immediately, and with the right attitude.
Obedience to God will be far more pleasing to your soul than the pursuit of your own interests could ever be.
John 14:15—If you love me, you will obey what I command.