Twas the
night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring
except for me. Actually it is quite a few days before Christmas as I start to
write this and it may be weeks after before I finish. I have many things on my
mind. It has been many months since I have tried to put thoughts down on
virtual paper. So I will try to be
concise and clear, though please forgive me if I fail. Much of this I write to
myself in an attempt to clear the cob-webbed jumble from my cognitive attic.
Obedience is a crucial thing in our lives,
from little ones we are taught to obey our parents and elders. If we don’t obey
or listen to Mom or Dad then we suffer a consequence for our excursion to the
dark side. If we don’t obey the speed limit we can end up with a ticket or
worse lose our life or take someone else’s. As Christians we are instructed to obey God. Yet I find myself distracted and swept away to
something else. I tend to lose my focus and then have a hard time regaining it
again. Sometimes I think I am afflicted with spiritual A.D.D.
Obey means
to hear actively, do you hear God? There
is an action to the word or concept of obedience. Do you take the time to
listen? What if God is speaking to you and you aren’t listening? What have you
missed? Is it like the proverbial tree falling in the forest making noise
question? Another question I have had
for a long time. What if God is speaking and I’m trying to listen but not
hearing?
Where does the desire to listen the come from?
It originates from the seed of love which has germinated in our spiritual
hearts toward God. It is part of the package that comes with total surrender to
Christ’s gift of love toward us. And the time spent with him one on one, day by
day, year upon year. Adam and Eve had a personal relationship with God when
they were in the Garden of Eden. They walked and talked with God as they
strolled through the garden enjoying the different scents and floral perfumes
which danced and floated through that heavenly air. God was in the house. They
were focused on their benefactor and nothing else until they were distracted
and quit listening.
It seems we repeat the same mistake on a daily
basis. We replaced the closeness and walks from the Garden of Eden for something
much worse. We have allowed the things around us to set the stage in our lives
and predicate what will be given our attention.
Who told you were naked?
We have allowed the things of this world to
rob us of our walks and closeness. Our focus is constantly assailed by things
so innocent “it’s ok to take a bite of the fruit you won’t die” and some so
complacent.
We fight this with discipline.
DISCIPLINE is taking the reins and
controlling the runaway carriage. I am in control I will do what has to be
done. It is Re-ESTABLISHING OUR FOCUS. We take the first step and rely on the
Holy Spirit to bolster and help us succeed. I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me.
PRIORITIES are the ladder of order which is strung together via
primacy and by DISCIPLINE.
The
discipline is exercised to set priorities and the time is set aside to listen.
The more time spent listening, praying, the clearer we hear the voice of the
shepherd. In the silence we strengthen
and hone our recognition of the Shepherds voice. But it becomes more than that,
it is something that we should be practicing as an active listening, searching
for what God is saying even in the noise of the day.
I will end
this for now .
2 Peter 5-9 using The Message translation
So don't lose a minute in building on what
you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character,
spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent
wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and
developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives,
no grass will grow under your feet; no day will pass without its reward as you
mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you
can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been
wiped off the books.
Peace be to
you,
Bro.James
