A Discussion On Christian Obedience And Responding

by Rev. Richard A. Kent
(Sullivan , In, USA)

Jonah 1-2

OK, so you’re a Christian. Now we know who we are, the next question is what do we do or where do we go to do it as Christians? Often in our journey as Christian men and women God will call us to do various things such as helping a neighbor, volunteering for a local charity or possibly working in a local church.

But has God ever led you to do something that you may not really have wanted to do? There are times in every Christian life when we feel this - we are human. The bigger question might be, did we walk in obedience or did we ignore God and look for an excuse as to why we chose not to?

God the Father has given to each Christian a gift. Many may even be gifted with more than one, dependent on how God wished to use each of us. We are like that of soldiers in battle, each person trained for a special task. The Commanding general (God) will place the individuals and units where they will best be used.

If someone or a group of people fail to respond or listen, then that mission is compromised and may fail. God looks for people he can trust. People that will trust him enough to say, ”If God calls me, he will indeed enable me”.

Individuals that, even though their human emotions may say no, will still walk forward in obedience to God, knowing and trusting that God is in control and has already prepared the way...if we will just take that first step.

We all know the story of Jonah...How God had instructed him to go to Nineveh and preach. Jonah did not want to go, and made the choice to disobey God. Later fleeing out to the sea, running from the mission God called to him. The story says God sent a giant fish or whale, which swallowed Jonah and held him in the stomach for three days.

Jonah having repented for his disobedience and choosing to fulfill his mission for the Lord, God commanded the whale to release him on dry ground, so he could again continue.

Is there, today, someplace that God has led you to go? Is there someone perhaps that God has asked you repeatedly to speak too? How about that church down the street, or that local ministry, that every time you drive by you feel the tug of the Lord, but still today have not responded.

Perhaps this is your call to respond. Accepting our calling and walking in faith, not in vain arrogance, but rather in confidence that we know that the Lord indeed knows what he is doing - amen.

That song that a local minister spoke of last Sunday in Church I visited said “step into the water, wade out a little deeper”. Meaning we must simply trust God, and say “yes” Lord, I will go, and if we do he promises to pour showers of blessings upon us for our simple obedience.

Do not look at things through our own eyes only, but let us pray God will reveal to us what he sees, and his plan. For what we may see as rags, he can make into pure white linens. There is no task too small or large for our God.

If we trust in him and respond in obedience, we will see positive results. We must remember we all have a part in this, and no matter the age or training, God has a place for each of us, if we will only listen.