Obedience: December 15, 2011

OBEDIENCE

DEFINITION:

Submissive to authority; yielding; compliance with.

SCRIPTURE:

But Simon answered and said to Him. Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net. And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. Luke 5:5-6.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Many people today take time to pray when they face major situations in their lives. God wants us to be obedient, not just in major situations but also in minor situations. When we obey God in small matters He can bring blessings.

In the first eleven verses of Luke 5 we read of how Simon Peter’s obedience brought blessing. Simon Peter was a fisherman by trade and had worked hard all night without catching any fish. He was on the shore cleaning up his boat when Jesus approached him. The Lord wanted to speak from the boat to the large crowd on shore. Peter agreed to take Jesus in his boat and the crowd was excited and blessed when they could see that Christ was going to speak to them.

This was really not a good time for Simon Peter to do this. He was up all night and was very tired but he responded in obedience to what Jesus asked of him. God’s requests can come to us at inopportune or unexpected moments. We may be tempted to let someone else respond to His call, thinking it will not matter who is the one to comply. But remember that in Jeremiah 29:11 we are told that His plans are designed for our benefit.

Later, Jesus made a second request to Peter. He asked Peter to move the boat into deeper waters and lower down the nets. You see, Jesus saw their need to get some fish. The fishermen commented to Jesus and among themselves that it was unlikely that they would catch any fish. After all they were professional fishermen and knew when to fish. They had fished all night and never got one fish.

But Peter did what Jesus asked him to do. Because of Peter’s obedience an abundance of fish was caught to feed the crowd. Peter didn’t obey to get rewarded but that is precisely what happened. His simple act of obedience led to greater opportunities for service.

Scripture demonstrates that divine plans often defy human logic. For example, who would design a battle strategy that involved only marching and shouting? God told Joshua to conquer Jericho that way and Joshua obeyed and look what happened. (Joshua 6:1-5)

Look at what God did with Moses. Moses felt very unsure about his ability to lead. God told him to throw down his walking stick. When Moses obeyed, God revealed His mighty power to confirm to Moses that he was God’s choice. (Exodus 4:1-3)

Because of obedience Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Look at the simple things that God asked these men to do. Throw the nets into the water, to march and shout, and to throw the walking stick to the ground. Our Father may ask us to do something strange or illogical but as these men did, we must respond in obedience as they did.

It may be taking on more responsibility when we are hoping to reduce our workload. It may be to leave a position we just started and really like. It may be to take on an assignment that we feel we are not equipped to handle. God uses our obedience to accomplish His purpose.

We must press forward every day and be obedient to what God calls us to do regardless how impractical the request may appear. Always make obeying God your priority.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 20:11.

Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right.

PRAYER:

Help me to be alert to obeying God even in the little things You ask me to do. Help me to listen carefully to Your voice so I can live in obedience to Your perfect will for my life.