Success for 2011

Part 2 - Obedience

Romans 6:16 (NKJV)
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Of course we all who find ourselves in service to the Lord, know that obedience is critical. Yet, it is a common mistake to become so familiar with the Lord that we begin to deceive ourselves into thinking we are walking in obedience when we are not. Abraham, when confronted with the command of the Lord to offer his son as a sacrifice, not only was willing, he did his part to move in obedience to the mandate. Obedience is where faith meets reality. Faith is heavenly while obedience can seem very earthy and natural. Faith is the thing that springs up in our hearts in the sunshine of His presence and obedience is our action when all around may be quiet and dark. However, only obedience in the shadows can bring the celebration of Victory. This is important to understand if we are to live the life of success in God. Obedience rarely feels good when it is being carried out. The shallow Christian who has come to believe that everything in the Walk is a happy stroll in the Spring will not see ongoing success in the Kingdom of God.

Obedience to the Lord is the true evidence of our faith. One of the most difficult things about obedience is that the thing we are supposed to do obediently is often brought into question in our mind. We must evaluate it in our spirit, test it by Scripture, purify it in prayer and then ACT. We are never quite sure when we act if it will work but if our heart is truly to please and obey God...Mission Accomplished! Remember, no man can validate a command of the Lord to you. It is a personal thing between you and Him. Every time you hear and obey there is a victory celebration in heaven.