Risky Obedience

Have you ever done something a little dangerous, something that if you didn't do it just right, your life would be at risk.  Or worse, someone else's?  If you have, you know the adrenaline rush that pulses through your veins, prompting you to have an acute sensitivity to space, time, and to throw out any other distraction.  This often becomes intoxicating and could birth an "adrenaline junkie." 

I'm NOT one of those people.  I really don't like taking risks, and my most recent trip to Valley Fair left me gripped with fear.  The best part, I faced them, I took the risk, and I was able to enjoy quite a bit of thrill.  Its amazing what we can experience if we just throw off our fears, and just do it. 

Obedience is really no different.  The Lord has been challenging me to step out of my comfort zone and take a risk, and other's lives are hanging in the balance.  I have the choice to play it safe, but if I do, its likely more dangerous than if I actually take the plunge. 

Let me tell you a little story, not to glorify myself, or to make Sarah look like an amazing faith filled warrior (If you want to see me that way I can't stop you *wink*), but instead to encourage you to take a risk, and let God take the lead. 

About a month ago our church was having an alter time of prayer for healings.  Amazing testimonies have been coming forward ever since I started attending Brandon Assembly(which at this point was maybe a month).  God is obviousally already working there.

A few days prior to this sunday meeting I was able to meet a mother who's daugher had not slept more than 4 hours a day for nearly a year.  She was plauged with the severest acid reflux she could possibly have.  She threw up everyday, and would never be able to heal from her hernia if this didn't stop.  Any one of these would be enough for a family to deal with, but together, it had left her parents weary to say the least.

Back to the alter time...  I saw her Mother and father bring up their daughter.  I felt a sudden rush of adrenline.  This is the Holy Spirit promping me to go foward and pray for them.  My first thoughts were "I'm new here, I don't know anyone, why me?  I just met them, they won't trust my prayers, My parents are here today!  That would be inconvenient."  The "adrenaline" pushed me foward, I was able to put the thoughts aside and focus on what God was saying. I went foward. 

My mind kept trying to spew garbage at me "Can the Lord really use my prayers?"  I kept reminding myself of the verse for the morning,   The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.  I will lean on this, I know the Lord called me out to pray, I will do it.  I feel bad that my faith is not more, but it is what I have, so it is what I brought before this tired family, and before the King of Kings.  After the service I was able to share with them what I felt the Lord wanted me to say.  I'll admit, I was still a little unsure of myself, but I was still obedient. 

A few days later on Wednesday night, her mother excitedly told me that she had begun sleeping better, about 6 hours a night not 4!  I was extatic.  We would continue thanking God for His works to increase.  The next week things had slipped back, we would not let that discourage, we were holding on to the promises of God.  4 weeks after the first Sunday, her mother reported she was sleeping almost all night, had not thrown up in 3 weeks, and the doctor said her acid reflux was now only mild!!!  That was NOT me, it was GOD! 

Now, I know it was God, but what would have happened if I wasn't willing to take the risk?  What if I hadn't been obedient?  Would God still have healed her?  Probably, He can do that without me.  But you know what?  He didn't want to do it without me, He wanted me to experience that with Him, and her family.  Through my obedience, my faith has skyrocketed.  I know its not my power, I know its not Sarah McCarthy, but you better believe if the Lord is asking me to do something, I'm going to do it!  I'm proud to say I'm not an adrenaline junkie, I'm an obedience junkie! 

I know there are assignments everyday.  Will I focus on what the Lord is calling me to or will I be distracted?  Will I answer these calls with obedience or with the fear of man?  Throw off your fears, your excuses, put aside your inadequicies and let the Holy Spirit guide you in obedience.  The rewards are so much greater than the risk. 

Faithful Obedience or Obedient Faith?

Revelation 22:17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

The Lord is calling each of us " Come." Our spirits plead with our flesh to let go and to "Come" into what the Lord is calling us to. Sometimes we move out it great faith, like Abraham, being full of the knowledge of what God is comanding.. We are strong, rooted, and we know what He is asking of us. Although we are being asked to do hard things, like sacrifice our only son, we trust and know that God has our best intrest in mind. Our obedience flows from our faith in God.

^{James 2:21-24}

²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[e] and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

Personally, I feel more like Rahab.  No, my house isn't "open for buisness."  Instead of having great faith like Abraham, Rahab knew very little of God, and nothing of His plan.  But her willingness to obey grew her faith and allowed God's plan to move foward, despite her knowlege or position of faith.  The result was far more than she could have ever imagined.

^{James 2:25-26}

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead

Sometimes Obedience is grown from faith and sometimes faith is grown from obedience.  But the Lord is calling each of us to "Come." 

Relativly Speaking

I'm always left wondering why my thoughts trail the way they do.  My thought patterns tend to wander, which if left untamed, can end up in some pretty precarious places.  While sometimes distracted, sometimes this is a good thing.  It allows God to move my motives, and my thinking to something he wants to teach me.

 For whatever reason today, I was thinking about Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature scales.  The same recorded number feels quite different.  30 Degrees Fahrenheit is pretty cold, but 30 degrees Celsius, not too bad.  The temperatures are only relative to the varying degrees around it on the scales.  Upon further thinking, everything is relative to what is around it.  

You can tell I'm a "Good Christan" by the behavior of my peers, or my social surroundings.  So if that is the case a "Good Christian" can vary quite a bit depending on who you associate with.  We are human, we will always compare.  Its how we figure out property value, job performance, physical fitness, and identity. 

So while I might seem like I have it all together in one surrounding, I will fail hopelessly when put amongst my true comparison, Jesus.  I often find myself fighting off pride.  I see the world around me and I quickly But, I'm pretty sure my "Good Christian" pride adds an haze of smog around my candle in the wind.  Luckily, this comparisson to Christ humbles me, its just what I need.

Jesus is the only thing we have to compare ourselves to.  We are called to imitate Him.  I will never succeed this side of Heaven, but I have a hope in redemption.  That while compared to Him, I will never be "good"; it is though Him and His Spirit that I have the opportunity to overcome and to be welcomed into His presence.  He is the only Good I will ever know, and I am for ever greatfull for His love and so glad He is willing to let me even be compared to Him.

Ephesians 5:1

 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.