I was searching for a picture that was a match for my theme “Obey”. And I can tell you there were not many encouraging images available. One t-shirt had the words “Obey or Die” written all over it. And then when I looked at the images it all become so clear. Of corse, in this world we live in, Obey and authority are not connected with word such as Love, Freedom, Prosperity, Grace. No in this world these words are the opposite. I believe this is one of our biggest challenges in the church today and for all of use calling ourselves Christians and followers of Jesus. To live our lives in such a way that Obeying God and to be under the Highest King’s authority is life giving, is wonderful and it is real freedom. We see so many people who don’t really get wholehearted onboard with this “obeying God message”. And I believe one of the reasons is that we think of obeying as something negative. And maybe we have thoughts like “God who is all love and good wouldn’t ask us to obey or if we are really honest when we in worship Thank God for being in charge and in authority of our lives, is he really the one in authority? Have we given Him the go, of correct us, direct, us transform us and prune us?
Couples in Crisis have to face the very same truth I and Johan had to face during our crisis. We have not lived our lives obeying God’s commands or when he has tried to get our attention to correct us, we have denied him access to our busy life.
We meet couple who think they are in the Jesus-family, but what they really are is more guests, and some of them are more part of the Jesus-fan-club. It is like a membership, you sign up for some of the things you like, but not completely. Not wholeheartedly.
And when crisis comes they can’t understand how this or that could happen? They don’t have a clue, but when we walk backwards with them they eventually see that decisions they’ve made and directions they’ve walked could’t lead them elsewhere. They ended up because they didn’t obey the commandments from Gods. It would have been such a bad story to tell if it just could go down from here. But here is a proof that God is Love and all good things come from Him. He is desperate to lead us back to the Land of promise. He is quick to forgive and forget. As soon as we turn around HE is there with His Love and Grace so we can do it His way this time.
13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil.”
Deuteronomy 6:13-14
“But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.”
Deuteronomy 6:23-24
These two scriptures shows us that Obeying God and allowing Him to be the only authority in our lives, is all about Love, Freedom, Prosperity, Purpose and Life. The Life God can give and want us to live. So I guess the message on the T-shirt has a truth in it. Obey or Die……..