Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

A long obedience

Monday, December 1, 2008

Isaiah 2:2-3
The mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say:
"Come, let us climb the Lord's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths."

Dad was roused into action by the telephone. Cows out! This always seemed to happen at night. So we went to find them and coax them back into their pasture. What sounds so simple often took hours ... unless the lead cows chose to be obedient. And then the others would always follow.

Dad wanted my obedience even more than he wanted that of his cows, I'm sure. I didn't catch the parallel until much later in life, of course. I had to grow up a little. Now that I'm nearly a grandpa I find choosing obedience easier. I have less energy to push through into my own way, of course. But following - whether that means listening to God or just listening to my boss or other leader - brings a sweetness to my spirit that surprises me.

I wonder how listening goes for presidents and monarchs and treasury secretaries. Just to be labeled a world leader must put a plug into some of those ears. Settling on a path requires determination and perseverance, often when others disagree. When I am a leader in this world, God's voice is more important than ever for me to hear. But can I take out the plug at one moment, and put it back in the next?

None of us knows the future but God. Of course He is the only one to follow. The centurion in Matthew 8 knows that. He asks Jesus to heal his son and clearly understands that Jesus can do that. Jesus calls on the power of God, and God is entirely in control. The centurion says to Jesus, "I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. I say to one 'Go,' and he goes; and to another 'Come here,' and he comes."

So I continue seeking my place in the hierarchy of heaven and earth, knowing better but hardly perfectly that I am a created one. God made me able to choose, gave me my own creativity, and shows me how to use those gifts. When I walk out in my own strength, he holds me up. He is proud of me. And I vow to remain utterly obedient to Him.

Take pleasure, Lord, in what you see in me. All I want is to please you. I cherish your breath in me, and your touch that holds me up. Your love sustains my life, Lord.

Devotions Archive

A long obedience

Monday, December 1, 2008