What if I miss those opportunities to give my
heart, my money, my time because I have already
allocated most of it to my own interests and
there’s just not much left for Jesus?
T
he word “obedience” feels weighty
and uncomfortable. It reminds me of
the wooden spoon that my mother
would use on me when I quarreled
with my older sister. Obedience doesn’t have
a light pleasant ring to it. Not like love, joy
and peace, which are so warm, soft and easy
to wrap oneself into. Instead, Obedience is
close friends with Humility, and perhaps
his dearest companion is Self-sacrifice. Sub-
mission costs us something. And often, that
“something”, is exactly what we do not feel
like giving away.
Years must have passed since I listened
to a memorable message about the dangers
of life in one’s 30s. A man was relaying a
great pitfall of this age- to waste it chasing
after those things that don’t have eternal
significance. Although I cannot remember
who was speaking or even recall the
remainder of his message, I still vividly
recollect the impact of that poignant
statement. I was flooded with a distaste
in my heart for a wasted decade. A new
found uneasiness gripped me as I pictured
throwing out my 30s on shallow and tempo-
rary desires. And still today, I cringe at the
thought of being too busy pursuing my
own priorities, that I disobey God’s voice
as he calls me into deeper service to him.
What if I miss those opportunities to give
my heart, my money, my time because I
have already allocated most of it to my own
interests and there’s just not much left for
Jesus? However, in truth, wasted lives don’t
come in 10 year increments. They come in
daily disobedience. Every morning, I have
a choice to make; will I give my time, my
heart, my money to what God calls me to, or
is my schedule already set, budget already
made and heart already invested elsewhere?
If I want to spend the next year honoring
God, then it will mean that I have to spend
the next day open to his calling. I must be
willing to lay down my own agenda, hopes,
and even dreams for what he is asking of me
next.
Because obedience can be painful,
climbing this steep and narrow path is done
with far more sure footedness, when the
decision to follow has already been made
in advance. The winding trail of surrender
comes with ever so many forks in the road.
Consequently, it is to our advantage if we
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