Obedience

Why do you do what you do? This is a really significant question. Whenever we do anything it's important to understand why we are doing it. What is motivating us; what is the root of the given choice or behaviour?

It's so easy to undertake things in life for wrong reasons. And many of those reasons can seem most legitimate at first glance. Maybe we do things because we are good at them. Or perhaps we see a need for something in Church or elsewhere in life, so we step up to fill it. Maybe someone else could influence us with the suggestion of a good idea or perhaps we could feel guilty about something and try to do something to alleviate that.

Scripture teaches us to set our hearts on being like Jesus. Jesus says He only does the things the Father tells Him to do - not one thing more, not one thing less. It’s only in obedience to God that we find satisfaction and fulfilment as human beings.

When we do things in obedience to God, He’s responsible for the consequences. But when we do things for other reasons we are the ones who are responsible for the consequences of our actions - often to our detriment! As today's scripture illustrates, without the anointing of God our efforts are futile.

Also, in 1 Corinthians 3 10-15 Paul talks about the need to 'build with care' so that our works may have eternal value:

‘By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames’.

Can you think of anything you’re doing today or longer term in your life which you're doing for the wrong reason? Ask Jesus to convict you of such things and encourage you in those things He’s prepared for you to do - the things which have eternal value. He really cares about this level of detail in your life and, if you follow His lead in what you do, you open the door for the blessing of abundant life He so desires to give you!

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, that You care about the detail of my life. I want to follow You and give You Lordship over decisions, big and small, of what I do with this life You’ve given me. Please will You speak to me about the choices I make in my life and help me to hear Your voice clearly, and have the courage to follow what You say. I choose to trust that You know what is best for me. Thank You for all the blessings You give me today and every day, in Jesus' name, Amen.