TODAY’S VERSE
John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (ESV)
I’m a contrarian by nature. I like to argue and debate, and will pick a verbal fight just for fun, even if I don’t agree with the side I choose to take. Which mostly means I was a very easy teenager for my parents to raise. As someone who liked his independence, had a proclivity to verbally spar, and tended to think he was always right, I’m sure I was a joy for my parents. Needless to say, immediate obedience does not come naturally to me. I’m sure that every parent, teacher, student leader, and kids’ ministry volunteer understands the frustration that comes from a disobedient child. We desire obedience because we want the child in question to be safe, to learn, to understand, and to grow, even when they can’t see the larger picture.
So often as a kid, I found myself questioning my parents’ instructions because I only saw the immediate action needed. I didn’t see two, three, or even seven steps down the road to what that initial step of obedience would lead to. I just needed to take a step and trust that my parents knew what was best for me, wanted the best for me, and had the best of intentions towards me — even if the step of obedience they were asking me to take was hard.
I’ve often found myself treating God with the same level of teenage obstinance. I know the step He’s asking me to take, but I find ways to argue and reason my way around it or out of it. How can I assume I know more than the Creator and Sustainer of everything? Sometimes it’s fear; other times it’s pride that keeps me from being obedient to what He’s calling me to. Most of the time it’s a combination of the two. And you know what’s funny about arguing with your parents? More often than not, you’re still going to do the thing they told you to do — you’ve just wasted 30 minutes.
Sometimes we waste minutes, and other times it’s months or even years of choosing to continually disobey and defy our Heavenly Father. But Peter has it right when he says to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” The truth is this: There’s no better place to be than walking in obedience to what our good, Heavenly Father has for us.
So what is the next step you know God is asking you to take? What is the thing you know you’re supposed to do, but fear or pride is holding you back? Maybe it’s confessing and repenting from the sin you keep ignoring or justifying. Maybe it’s being willing to hit your knees in prayer on a Sunday morning or lifting your hands to worship the Savior. For some of us, it’s taking that step of obedience to serve and pour into the next generation. Whatever it is for you, it’s time to walk in obedience to what God is calling you to do, and take that step.
APPLICATION
Scott challenged us on Sunday that if we want to grow, we have to go with Jesus wherever He leads. What next step do you need to take this week to be obedient to the Father? Check out southland.church/nextsteps.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to have the courage and humility to step out of my comfort zone and follow You more fully today.