Obedience looks like buying a house that only God has the keys to.
“Trust in the lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5
My class of twenty-three 4-5 year olds bicker like crazy. Before kids you would never think someone could actually cry for twenty minutes over spilled milk… that they had no intentions on even drinking! Everyday in class we learn new things.. but also every day we learn the same thing:
Share, share, share!
I know, I understand you were playing with that ball two and a half hours ago but no it is not still yours, so-and-so has the ball now – you need to share.
*tragic meltdown*
OK, OK I see that your friend has thirty legos and you only have twenty-nine, we can just take turns with it–no don’t cry–we have to share!!
*throws legos off table*
Yes, I know that you need the red marker to finish coloring your school bus (what??) but your friend is using the red marker currently. No, they haven’t had the red marker all day, it’s been 45 seconds. It’s going to be okay, we need to share.
*pouts until they receive red marker*
From the time we were little children into adulthood and beyond, we learn how to share. I must admit, it must be hard to be four; all these tall people demanding us over and over to give up things that are clearly ours. However, little do those ‘littles’ know that teacher knows better, mommy, daddy knows better. That imperative request that causes so many tears and temper tantrums is actually fundamental for their overall growth.
If you’ve been a Christian very long I’m sure you know that you can’t walk close to God and remain unchanged.To truly abide in Christ we must give Him everything. We may be older now but in many ways I think we share a lot in common with children. So often God will ask something of us and we rebel and wrestle instead of just being obedient. It could be anything.. a job that consumes all of your time, relationships, the amount of time we spend on our cell phones- even non-tangible things. Maybe it’s letting go of a past hurt that still hurts present day. Unforgiveness? Pride? Bitterness?
Anyway, whatever it may be, we don’t want to let it go. We don’t want to lose control. Why? Because it hurts, it’s scary, it’s uncomfortable. So we cry, and we throw spiritual temper tantrums.. but teacher knows best, our Father, God, He knows best.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
– Isaiah 55:8-9
However, unlike the struggles of sharing a gallon bucket of legos between two five year olds, God isn’t exactly calling us to share with him but more the so as Proverbs 3:5 says, trust the Lord with all thine heart. Not 25% not 75% not 44 100ths but 100% ; all of it.
So when God asks for that thing… yeah that. That extra lego? that red marker? Give it to Him. not half of it, not just for five minutes; give it to Him. He is ten times better off with it than you are.
Obedience looks like buying a house that only God has the keys to. You don’t invite people to an open house and leave all the doors locked. With God, there can be no closed doors, no doors ajar. A closed door means no access, a door left ajar says God you can look but you can’t touch.
It’d be easy to give up that dreaded vegetable you don’t like for God, to stay away from that person who always gives you dirty looks. However, ironically it’s the things we force-feed most of our love that have the potential to keep us from the One who love us most.
I know it’s not easy.
I know it’s hard.
I know it’s scary and your heart feels stripped but that’s okay.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. He has a purpose for what He gives and a purpose for what He takes away. So stop feeling complacent and shallow and loosen your grip.
Open your doors.
Open your windows.
Hand over that red marker.
Teacher knows best.