What's Your Level Of Obedience

...Re-Examining Our Obedience, Through The Reflection of Abraham's Life

Obedience – not a popular topic nowadays is it? Nevertheless, every believer must face the facts about his or her own level of obedience. On a scale of 1-10, where are you in your obedience? Not where you’d like to be? Well, don’t despair, the purpose of this week’s blog is to help you re-examine that very subject and move forward.

When I think of obedience, I think of the patriarch Abraham. The story of Abraham’s obedience in Genesis chapter twenty two is one that is filled with invaluable lessons for the believer. Remember the setting? Abraham is called to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah. Let’s see what we can learn from the story: Here we go!

Principle #1: For the believer, tests are inevitable

God always tests His Abrahams. His chosen servants are always a proven people, hence testing is a must.

Do you want God to put His stamp of authenticity on your life and ministry? Then get ready to be tested and proven. God never puts His product into service without first approving it. You are His product!
• Gen. 22:1

Principle #2: Obedience often requires our best

Obedience to God is always personal. It gets next to you, especially when He requires you to offer up an Isaac.

Radical obedience says I am willing to offer up that which is most precious to me. Have you laid your Isaac down?
• Gen. 22:2

Principle #3: Obedience is always offered on God’s terms

Obedience must always be done in God’s way in order for it to be acceptable. We often want it on our own terms and in our timing. Not so.

Abraham “went to the place where God told him”. Surprisingly there is no record of hesitancy on Abraham’s part, just an amazing display of faith and trust.
• Gen. 22:2

Principle #4: Biblical obedience is always marked by diligence

God is not only looking at your act of obedience, He’s also looking at the spirit in which it is carried out.

The text says that “Abraham rose early in the morning,” indicating an attitude of diligent obedience. True obedience is always salted with diligence.
• Gen. 22:3

Conclusion:

By now you’re probably thinking, “Will I ever be able to achieve that kind of obedience?” The fact is, most of us desire it; we’ve just not arrived there yet. Take heart, Abraham didn’t start there either. A closer examination of his earlier life shows it sprinkled with half hearted obedience that actually borders on disobedience.

Be encouraged in your obedience walk. Acknowledge your current level of obedience and commit to improvement. We’ll look at more principles concerning the topic of obedience next week.

Coach John

Comments

[Eva Majors]

Wow.. what a wake up call.. I also beleive the tests also come in subtle ways like giving a word of encouragment to someone or praying for someone when God wakes up up in the middle of the night.. how often we turn back over and go to sleep.. as I speak from experience!