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Thoughts on following well!

In 1 John 2:3 we can read "We know that we have come to know Him (God) if we obey His commands."

The Christian life is a life full of choices that we have to make at many levels ... but each time we are faced with a choice we want to be in that place where we choose well - we choose obedience. As another author once wrote "obedience is my gift to God!"

Genesis 32 and 33 give some food for thought as we reflect on Jacob's journey:
  1. We can have the conviction that we serve a God who speaks to His children ... Ps 25 encourages us that He confides in us! What a precious statement, we tend not to confide in people we don't trust ... so, as the Lord confides in us that should encourage us that He is entrusting something to us!
  2. When  this revelation, instruction or direction comes, however it might come, it comes with clarity. Which means that we will both understand and have a personal conviction that the Lord has said this!
  3. Once the revelation has come there must be an attendant act of obedience or a first step of faith.
  4. Acknowledging that the source of the revelation comes from God their is still the need of some human endeavour to think and plan the 'how'. We have been created with the capacity to think and we are expected to exercise that capacity.
  5. Despite the conviction that God has spoken we should expect some reaction when we make our first steps not everyone will be in agreement!
  6. At the same time we must not succumb to the paralysis of fearfulness ... what if it all goes wrong? In order to minimise this risk, or indeed to overcome this temptation, and to strengthen ourselves in the Lord we can:
    • Remind God and ourselves of what He has said and promised.
    • Determine to take an additional step in the same direction ... and take it.
    • Spend time 'wrestling with God' ... this too is part of the journey.

Them, like Jacob, we will see both the deliverance of God and the fulfillment of His word and promise.

So, whatever else you might do, press on! 

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 13, 2013 at 12:14 PM

    Helpful thoughts....particularly point 5 and 6 i, ii, iii. That we can enter into such realms of intimacy with God to even remind Him of what He's said and promised, is pretty staggering. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ajbaggJuly 13, 2013 at 1:44 PM

    Indeed... what blesses me the most is reflecting on the truth that God confides in His people. Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 7, 2013 at 5:31 AM

    Grace upon grace upon grace - God's entrusting HIS thoughts to me! Reminds me of Is. 1:18: "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land..." Don't feel quite worthy (but by His mercy and grace).

    Thanks for the thoughts - Keep the Faith!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ajbaggAugust 7, 2013 at 7:24 AM

      The verse paints a wonderful picture of the Lord inviting us in order to confide in us ... despite who we are!

      The more we ponder the more we are in awe of His grace, and the privilege it is to serve Him!

      Delete

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