Simple Ordinary Obedience: The Pathway to Peace

Joni Eareckson Tada once stated that her Cristian walk was made up of small steps of drastic obedience. Ah, so true. Yet, simple ordinary obedience is as profound as well. And often these small steps – whether drastic or ordinary - are the hardest ones. It takes a firm resolve, keeping our focus on the Lord Jesus and going forth in His power and for His glory. All too often our duty is too heavy for our weak shoulders. We are to fight our battles in His strength – whether small or great. God desires obedience from His children in every area - for many reasons – not the least of which is that it demonstrates we believe what He says to be true, trustworthy and beneficial for us. All throughout Scripture He is calling us to obedience to His revealed will in His Word. It is not as much about sacrifices as it obedience. He tells us in 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NIV): But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” There is always a price to be paid for disobedience. Sin is never our friend.

All too often, there can be a heavy weight in our obedience – our shoulders alone not being strong enough for our duties. We can feel burdened and oppressed on every side. Remember, we are to lay the heaviest part our cross on His all-powerful shoulders. It is He Who will carry us through this, even this. We need only to trust and obey. He has not called us to fight our battles alone or simply be obedient to the next right thing in our own strength. Saints are called to reflect upon the fact that we carry around within us - through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirt – the strength of Almighty God - to fight our battles for us. We are not to flinch or be fearful. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Paul writes in Romans 8:31 (NIV). He is ever with us through all our pain, suffering and sorrow bringing us comfort and peace. Believers are to rely upon God for continual supplies of power and strength. He will never let the righteous fall rather He upholds them with His mighty Hand. We live in a fallen, broken world of our own choosing but it will not always be so. Steady yourselves saint in the power of the Holy Spirit and go forward for His glory. You will not be disappointed as no creature every outgives the Lord of Hosts.