Skip to main content

When Obedience Doesn't Make Sense




If I were to choose one word to describe the birth of Jesus, it would be obedience.

The, often selfless, act of choosing to do what you are asked even when it seems crazy,

pointless, or a wrong life choice.

Obedience is woven all through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

Noah did all that the Lord commanded.

Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded.

Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Ninevah.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the story of the nativity.


Elizabeth and Zacharias were unable to have what they wanted most, children.

They had probably prayed many times over many years asking God for children.

only to be met each time with a resounding "no."

Yet, as the time comes for Zacharias' division to serve in the temple, Zacharias is chosen to offer the incense.

As he was serving, perhaps he decided to ask God one more time for the desire of their heart.

God stepped in (I love it when God steps in because miracles happen!) and To everyone's surprise, Elizabeth is going to have a baby.

After years of begging and pleading and the answer is "no," now the answer is "yes."

Imagine their excitement when the baby arrives, and they hold that precious little miracle in their arms.

Everyone was there to celebrate this blessing with them.

When their friends and family ask about the name and Zacharias said, "His name is John."

Those around them were sure that they had heard wrong.

"Why do you want to name him John,"  they asked.

But Zacharias followed God's instructions and called him John.

Why did God want them to call him John?

I have no idea, and I doubt Elizabeth and Zacharias understood it either;

but they understood listening to God, so they named him John.

It didn't make sense, and I'm sure that they would have preferred to name him Zacharias, or some other family name;

even their friends wanted them to choose a family name.

I'm sure it would have been easy, in that moment to give in to peer pressure and go with an old family name. 

Afterall, it's a little thing and a baby's name seems like such a small thing.

But they were faithful and obedient to God's instructions and named the baby John.

Often it's hard to be obedient when it goes against the flow;

and everyone wants you to make another choice.

As we head into the Christmas season,  let's look for ways to be obedient to God.

Maybe helping a neighbor,

taking a meal to someone,

or buying hats and mittens for those in need,

Whatever it is that God asks you to do, be obedient.












Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thank you God for Leading us

Thank you God for how you lead us. Like a shepherd leading his sheep. Sometimes through the words you spoke in the Bible, your written word. at other times, it was the wise words from friends,  coworkers,or neighbors spoken at just the right time. Still other times it was a gentle tug,   a whisper to our heart to move  in one direction or another;  intuition or a sixth sense that one   way or another was right or wrong    Yet, when I listened and obeyed   I found the way was clear, distinct and easy to follow. You never leave us to guess which way to go.                                                                                                      ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Grow Old Gracefully

I’d like to tell you about a lady I visited yesterday.   She is ninety-five years young.  She recently moved into nursing home.  She asked one of the workers how many times she would have to walk around the outside of the building in order to walk a mile.  She said the person told her about ten.   Then she leaned in really close and whispered, “I walked around twelve just to be sure I walked a mile.”  Hahahaha! What a lady!  She loves to keep active, even in a nursing home.  As we talked, I saw no anger or bitterness in her speech or actions. There was only a love for God, a heart of compassion, and a sense of humor. She has befriended the one "prickly pear" at the home because as she said, “I have to love her, so she knows Jesus loves her too.”  Wow!!! I need to live like that!  I want to show that much compassion for those around me that need Jesus.  She loved to talk about God and what he was teaching her. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What’s That Smell?

To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. 2Corinthians 2:16 Last break!  The shift was almost over. Then the unthinkable happened, this man appeared out of nowhere wanting to know where the flashlights were kept.  As we were on our way to the flashlights, I noticed that this man had a very strong odor.  I thought perhaps I could get in front of him so that the smell would not be as strong.   That, however, was not to be either since; he insisted on keeping pace and walking right beside me. By the time we got to where the flashlights were; I was practically running just to keep ahead of him.  I showed him the flashlights and made a hasty exit.  If you’re like me, you shower and even put on perfume or cologne so that you will not stink.  We are concerned that the smell coming from our body is not offensive to others.  As I write this, I wonder if we are as concerned with our spiritual aroma as ...
Post a Comment
Read more