When To Be Obedient

This lesson of obedience continues to challenge me, specifically self preservation over obedience.   Jeremiah 42, a few of the remnant of Israel come to Jeremiah and beg him to seek Gods word for them. They seem earnest in their seeking God's will. They ask, "May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God." (Jeremiah 42:5, 6 NIV). They seem so real about it all!  And what happens: the unfavorable choice in their eyes is what is chosen. God asks them to stay where they are, in the land they are being mistreated in by the Babylonians, a land of war, instead of going to Egypt where there is no fighting and life would be easier. The irony of Egypt being their desire is strong, but moving on.  God says, "Indeed, all who are determined to go to Egypt to settle there will die by the sword, famine and plague; not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.'" (Jeremiah 42:17 NIV).  God is saying, Trust Me! He wants them to stay where He asks and He promises them generations of blessings and honor and they say what? No? They more than say no! They hit the road running because what God has asked is too much for their temporary, self-preservation state of minds.  And self preservation comes in again. "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" (Mark 8:34-36 NIV)  Jesus asks for obedience in surrender, in loss of self for gain of righteousness, in choosing a perfect Savior over a damaging world. The temporary part of man says that the persecution, the struggle, the embarrassment, the lifestyle change are just too much. That is too hard and burdensome...but in exchange for what? Jesus is not offering Little Debbie's or college tuition! He offers salvation, love, peace, a glorified eternity in the presence of an wholly Perfect God! We, as humans, have been known to go through more trying times for lesser rewards.  This life is temporary. This present suffering ends. It will end and it could end any day! What we look for after that matters. Obedience through the trials of this life is worth it for a day of glorious peace and joy unimaginable in the presence of God, let alone an eternity.  My self preservation serves me well when mountain climbing or learning to drive but it doesn't beat obedience. I should be surrendered to God in a way that I follow His will, not because it is temporarily rewarding or pleasant but because it is God's Perfect Will and not mine. That is obedience. 

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