God has been teaching me over the past couple of months about obedience. Clark, the missionary in Botswana that I’ve shared about, told us a bit about how they decided to go to Botswana. Through out his story he mentioned, “when we felt the call, we knew we wouldn’t be happy anywhere else, we had to go.” This made such an impact on me. He knew that even leaving the comforts of family, stability, and home behind in Ireland did not compare with the lack of joy of walking outside the purpose that God had for him.
I love in Luke when Jesus calls the disciples to follow Him. They don’t pause to consider the pros and cons. They don’t start preparing to pack their bags. When they receive the call, they leave their career, their family, and their home “immediately” (Luke 5:11). Earlier in chapter 2, God calls Joseph to lead his family to Egypt in a dream. What I think is astonishing is that Joseph wakes up from the dream and doesn’t even wait til daybreak. He takes Jesus and his wife and immediately leaves! A beautiful picture of going right when God calls. Not waiting for confirmation, but obeying what has already been spoken.
One of my squad mates shared with us a few months ago the idea of “delayed obedience being disobedience.” I think the sad reality is that when we choose to disobey God, we ultimately miss out on all that God has for us. We miss out on the opportunity to see God’s glory at work around us (and even more exciting potentially for God to work through us). We simply miss out.
Yes, it is challenging to go if we feel comfortable where we are currently at. Or, to let go when we so deeply want to cling to comfort. But God’s way is oh so much better. When I have thought about God as Almighty Creator of this world, who truly knows what’s best for me, it has really helped me trust that what is on the other side of obedience, no matter how difficult it may be in the moment, will be much better. I believe I will gain greater intimacy with God and greater peace of mind as I walk in obedience, I will no longer have that “thing” I need to do always weighing in the back of my mind. I can obey, be confident that I walked in what God had for me, and keep my ears open for the next thing.
When we delay disobedience, I believe we not only miss out on the joys of walking in obedience as we journey with God, but we miss out on what else God may be calling us into. If I am so focused on what I failed to obey the first time, yet still feel I should do, my thoughts are directed at the call I should have already fulfilled and I may miss when He calls me to do something else. That’s why obedience should be immediate. Not after I have weighed the pros and cons or received confirmation. Not every time that God calls is it for right in the present moment. I understand this and I’ve seen this in my own life. But I do believe we miss out by walking in fear rather than walking in boldness and obedience. If God does not want you to walk in it now, I believe He makes that clear. If I’ve received the Word, now is the time for obedience.
