It is unfortunate that many times we wait until everything looks hopeless before we turn to God and ask Him to pick up the shattered pieces of our lives. We would avoid so many pitfalls if we would become more sensitive to God and in child-like faith, trust and obey the voice of our Heavenly Father.
It is quite clear that disobedience is the root of much misery. But through the obedience of Jesus, mankind has returned to his original destiny—a relationship with God. Our choice to obey God is one way in which our relationship to God can be maintained and begin to grow.
In order to maintain a vibrant relationship with the Lord, we can no longer rely on our own good works to impress God; rather we must keep a yielded and obedient heart.
True obedience is the return to close and continual communication with God. It is when we develop the awareness of God’s holy presence abiding within us that we avoid disobeying Him. This fellowship will bring an increased dependence on our Heavenly Father.
The only way we will ever accomplish anything is to begin. As we begin to commune with God, we will realize that His presence empowers us to do the things which are pleasing in His sight.
It is through this abandonment of independence that we learn to become faithful. God is looking for those who will become more dependent upon Him. When steps are made in the direction of obeying God’s instructions, we put ourselves in position for God’s miraculous power to move in us and through us.
It was after Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, obeyed the Prophet Elisha and dipped himself seven times in the muddy Jordan River that he experienced the miracle he sought. He was hopelessly sick. His pride almost prevented him from going through with God’s plan. But by stepping into that river, he was saying, “I will do whatever the man of God has said.” And his leprosy was instantly healed (see 2 Kings 5:1-14).
Obedience creates an atmosphere for miracles.
In Acts 9:10-18, Ananias was told by the Lord to go and lay his hand upon Saul of Tarsus and pray that he might receive his sight. Ananias was simply a disciple of Jesus, but the spotlight of attention directs us to his act of obedience. He had only to obey and a wonderful miracle took place. Ananias was the instrument God used to launch one of the most powerful ministries the world has ever seen.
Our obedience sets the stage for great things to happen. Each time we follow God’s unfolding plan we step into a new adventure in God.
Not everyone will be like the Apostle Paul, but there can certainly be a lot more like Ananias. Paul would never have experienced the great things he did had he not been obedient. Notice what Paul said about himself while standing before King Agrippa, “…I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision…” (Acts 26:19 NKJV).
Are we able to say like Paul, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision?
