Obedience

1 SAMUEL 15; 16; MATTHEW 1:18-25

It has been far too long since I have taken the time to truly study God's word and to reflect on it. Today I begin my journey again. If there is anybody else out there like me it is far too common to begin the journey again. It is very reassuring the God is so gracious that he allows us to come back as many times as it takes for us to get it right.

The passages that I read tonight described three significant events. One was King Saul's disobedience of the Lord, the second was David being anointed by Samuel as the next king and the third was the birth of Jesus.

All three of these events were examples of what happens when we obey or disobey God. It is interesting and very challenging to try to understand how our role and what God is asking us to do fits into the grand scheme of things. Saul did not follow the Lord's exact instructions. He did most of what God asked him to do but did not follow the instructions exactly. As a result he lost his position as king. This disobedience is what led to David being anointed as the next king. Had Saul followed God's instructions exactly then Jesus would not have a connection with Bethlehem. It is amazing how God is absolutely in control.

In contrast Samuel followed God's instructions exactly and anointed David to be the next king. This allowed Jesus to be born into a royal family line. How appropriate. There is no way that Samuel could have possibly known the eternal significance of obeying God so many years before Jesus was born. To Samuel it must have been just a minor thing to go and anoint the son of Jesse. In reality he planted Jesus' family tree.

Many years later Joseph had a few options to choose from. He could have divorced Mary as was his original plan, he could have had sex with her to try and hide the fact that his wife was pregnant with a child that was not his. But he chose to do the obedient thing and marry her and not have sex with her until after Jesus was born. People would have found it very difficult to believe that Jesus was truly the Son of God had Joseph not obeyed God.

I think that it is amazing that on the day that I decide to return to scripture and return to spending regular time with God that the passage before me is about obedience. Divinely appropriate. I love that God is so in control that as I choose to start to obey him again He gives me a lesson on obedience. That is why I choose to follow and to obey the one true God. He knows me, he loves me and he knows exactly what I need. Why would I not want to follow and obey such a perfect God?

Dear God

Thank you so much for teaching me the significance of absolute obedience. Even when I do not know why you are asking me to do something I can trust that you know why. That should be enough for me to obey. Reading the scripture you put before me today I realize that my total obedience can and will have a direct impact on not only those around me but also on future generations. Although my acts may seem insignificant I am happy to obey you and to serve you. I pray that you will keep me motivated to obey you directly even in the face of opposition. Thank you so much for your love for me and for the opportunity to obey you. You have saved me and welcomed me into your arms and for that I am eternally grateful. So tonight I offer my self into your service ready to follow you and to do your will. Thank you.

Amen.