Lost

I’ve become increasingly aware recently of a word that seems to have lost its place in our lives.  A word which has been chased from our pursuit of Christ in spite of the fact that it seems to stand at the center of His relationship with His Father.  The word Obedience. 

We don’t like that word anymore. As a matter of fact, the entire idea of simply following authority has been stripped from our experience.  We are constantly skeptical and are taught that this is the strength of our generation.  We don’t just follow; we need to be convinced we need to be included in the decision-making process and we need to be motivated. 

The problem however is that this limits, if not eliminates, our experience of God.  Christ’s relationship with the Father was defined by submission and obedience.  We don’t get a say in the process and we don’t deserve an explanation.  In His grace, He will often give us explanations—and in His love and grace He motivates us but, in the end, it comes down to one word—obedience.  The idea that God knows more than I do.  Faith that God can be trusted.  It’s time we brought obedience back into our vocabulary and maybe left application at the door.  It’s not that I’m not applying the passage, it’s that I’m not obeying God.  Let it be what it is and experience God there.  It’s then that you can begin to walk the path of obedience.