Tag: follow

Selective obedience

I can be pretty rebellious.

I think it is because of several early run ins with corrupt authority. I will take requests under consideration but I will always question motives. Even though this might be my natural bent, it’s not my fault that it has been so well developed. It is in part my own sinful nature and the sinful nature I bumped up against from 6-16 or so.

I do know and trust God completely, but I still find myself doing the easy obedience things and not the ones that take some effort or denial of self. I can do easy. I can do hard, but that seems to be where I am a bit resistant.

But selective obedience isn’t really obedience, especially when we are talking about the God of the Universe, the God who has blessed me with so much.

Who am I to pick and choose?

I have been granted free will — for good and for bad. It would be much easier if I would just decide once and for all to follow and not

…wander

…get distracted

…stumble

…fall

…question

…hesitate

…protest

…throw a fit

…get lost

…try to negotiate something different

…forget

…________________ [fill in the blank]

And yet He loves me still!

And He loves you, too!

Step by step He will lead me. And I truly do want to follow Him all of my days. I just need to hang on the hem of His garment and stick close!

As with Gladness Men of Old

by William C. Dix, 1837-1898

1 As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led by Thee.

2 As with joyful steps they sped,
Savior, to Thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before
Thee, whom heav’n and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

3 As they offered gifts most rare
At Thy cradle, rude and bare,
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heav’nly King.

4 Holy Jesus, ev’ry day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

5 In the heav’nly country bright
Need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown,
Thou its sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King.

Scripture references: Matthew 2:1-11; Isaiah 60:19; Revelation 21:23

We are in the season of Epiphany!

Who is leading your way into this New Year?

So, most gracious Lord, may we evermore be led by Thee.

I know that God is leading — that isn’t a problem for me. My challenge is in the following — am I truly willing to be led?

Sometimes I am waiting for the perfect moment. When life is comfortable. The time when it works for me and feels right and good. Sometimes I have to run out of my own ideas and finally be desperate enough to challenge my own thoughts and ways in order to surrender myself to His service. I hate to admit that, but it is true.

Being led is so hard — especially when you have your own ideas on how things should go.

Following God isn’t always easy and it isn’t always fun. It may take me places that I am not quite sure that I want to be. Who wants to be in the middle of hard? Who wants to be in the midst of pain?

But being led by a gracious Lord means that there is grace along the way. It is important for me to remember that and re-remember that!

Lord, thank you for graciously and lovingly leading me. Give me a heart that is willing to be led by You. Amen.

For your consideration: Write out or print out these verses for contemplation this week. You might find that each day there is something different that resonates with you. If you play piano and you have a hymnal, play the song. Do you love to draw? Sketch out one of the images described. You can also check out the Scripture references. Or even dig into the details on the author. There are a lot of ways to make connections with the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs I will be posting in a way that deepens your understanding and connection with God’s love and provision for you. I love that God created us each with different interests, skills, and abilities — enjoy exploring yours!