Love to hear from and know who is listening
If you have children you know that getting your children to be obedient is very difficult, as I am certain my parents will attest to! When my children were living at home one of the most difficult tasks for me to get them to do was washing the dishes, and we had a dishwasher! If I asked them to do the dishes they would always respond, “I did them last time Dad” and it didn't matter which child you asked that was always their response. Another difficult task was getting them to clean their room. For some reason they never thought their room needed to be cleaned even when the bed was unmade and there was piles of dirty laundry all over the floor. If they would only listen to me then life would be a lot simpler! However, even if they were obedient they still had to complete the chore that, to them, seemed so hard. You would think being obedient would make the task ahead of you easier, right? But it doesn't seem to work that way. You can find a perfect example of how life can be difficult even when you are obedient in Matthew chapter 14. Jesus told the disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and they were obedient, they did as they were told. However, as they were on the way a storm came and they were battered by the waves.
Matthew 14: 24-27 NIV Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared to death. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Have courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Obedience is supposed to bring blessings, right? What happens when obedience brings pain? Following Christ will eventually lead to suffering. Scripture tells us not to be surprised when trials come.
1 Peter 4:12 NIV Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Scripture is filled with stories of those who obeyed even when it was hard. Consider Mary when the angel Gabriel visited to tell her that God was about to make her, a virgin, the mother of the Savior of the world. Mary knew some of what she was getting into. She knew she was in for a life of scandal and persecution. Not to mention the pressure of raising God’s Son! Consider Hagar, Sarai’s servant. She was given to Abram by Sarai, so she could bear him a son. She did what Sarai wanted, became pregnant with Abram’s child, and then Sarai turned on her. She was so mistreated, she fled to the wilderness. The angel of the Lord found her and told her to return to Sarai and submit to her. Hagar was given to a man she did not choose, she becomes pregnant, and the woman who forced her into this treats her harshly. It’s no wonder she wanted to run away! Returning to Abram and Sarai meant more suffering, yet she obeyed. We need to look no further than Jesus Christ for the ultimate example of someone suffering for their obedience.
Luke 22:42 NIV Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.
He chose to submit to His Father’s will, knowing the great cost He would pay. Jesus desired His Father’s will more than His own. He obeyed even when it hurt! He gave his life so we could have eternal life with Him! Laying down our will is a death must die every day. And death is painful! It is no wonder obedience is so hard!
