Why is obedience so hard! When I tell my kids to do something, I expect them to do it. I don't count to five or even three, because that only gives them time to be disobedient; I expect them to do what I say, when I say. I also expect them to do what I have asked them to do - not their own way or halfway, but as I have stated (wow, I sound bossy). And God expects the same of me.
When he tells me what to do, He expects me to do it when He says it; but unfortunately I catch myself wanting Him to "count" and give me more time (and counting to five wouldn't be close to high enough). But His timing is perfect and I have to learn to fully trust in that (Prov 3:5-6). When He tells me to do something, it's because that is the time to do it. It's got nothing to do with how I feel or what I think. God has already went ahead of me and prepared everything - I need to trust Him. For me not to do what He says when He says demonstrates a lack of faith and is nothing less than disobedience.
For me to do things my way or halfway is also disobedience. So often I've said, "Well God, I did it!" And that's just it, I did it; it really had nothing to do with God because I changed what He told me to do. Even just changing God's command a little takes glory from Him and brings it to us, which eventually always leads to disaster. God is the only One who can contain glory and the only One who deserves it, and when He is glorified, lives are truly changed.
We must be obedient in doing what He says, just as He's said, so only He receives glory; Just thinking that my disobedience could cause someone to stumble or miss God completely is heartbreaking. What better way to demonstrate to my children about true obedience than for them to see me obey God daily - to see me obey God when it's not the easy thing to do. What better way for my friends, family, and co-workers to learn what God really means in my life? What better way to win the lost than to be obedient?
2 John 1:6 "And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning that you should walk in it."
