Tag: obedience
Today’s guest post is written by Kendra Hunt, a warm, wonderful, welcoming friend whose depths of wisdom and love never seem to end. Through life’s everyday circumstances, and often a touch of humor that lifts the spirit, she cuts to the heart of what a day-to-day relationship with God looks like lived out. I pray you’ll be blessed by the message she’s brought to you here!
A few years ago I was chatting with a friend who’d come to my home for a visit. We both had little kids who seemed always to be at our feet. Conversation was sporadic at best and we could count in the course of a night the number of sentences we actually completed. It was the end of the year and we were discussing the church-wide fast for January.
We would start a sentence and then change a diaper, start a sentence and then fill a sippy cup, start a sentence and then dart to save a little one from falling off a chair. Do you see a pattern? It is amazing that I remember anything from that night, but I do. I distinctly remember my friend talking about what God had put on her heart to fast – and she was excited. What?
How could she be excited about depriving herself of something??
She multitasked while sharing her excitement to live in obedience regarding what God was asking of her. It was strange and yet very enticing. The conversation got me to thinking about obedience. So many principles in the Bible are vastly contrary to popular culture. Who would think obedience to an invisible God would be exciting? The thought of giving up something you are very attached to, such as sugar or social media, or worse, chocolate, was not something that would seem exciting.
As I continued to think about obedience, I imagined a puppy, a family’s treasured pet. Have you ever seen a puppy when they have been disobedient? They hang their head and tuck their tail down. They stay at a distance, scared of the discipline that may follow their disobedient behavior, like a shadow attached to a kid playing in the sun.
So what does an obedient puppy do? Why yes!! They are excited. They wag their tails and come close to you, waiting for a pat on the head or a rub behind their ear.
Obedience is exciting because, when it is done from a heart of love, it brings you closer. Obedience strengthens a relationship and draws you closer to the one to which you have subjected your will.
Obedience from love opens the door for God to do a transformative work in your life.
The apostle Peter gives instruction in the New Testament telling the people to continue to be obedient, even in their suffering. He reminds them of their hope and tells them that obedience will multiply their grace and peace.
Obedience is exciting because it brings you nearer to a God whose number one desire is for you to be close to Him. He sent His son to live a life of obedience so that you could be close to Him.
“By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:19 (KJV)
Don’t be fooled by the world and its message that living for God is living a life that is not fun and exciting. Obedience to God is exciting in a way the world will never know.
Kendra’s boys say that she spends her time making dinner and wrestling them for hugs. Kendra spends the rest of her time as a full-time mom, a full-time pastor’s wife, a part-time accountant, a ladies group leader, a PTA board member, and the director of the mentoring program for Gateway Church’s NFW campus. She is also the author of Encouragement Between Loads of Laundry, a hilarious, yet poignant collection of inspirational devotions for women. While Kendra doesn’t even enjoy making dinner, she is proud that it is first on her boys list! The rest are just details!
Get your copy of Kendra’s book here! Available for Kindle and in paperback.
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