OBEDIENCE AND MIRACLES

“If you love me, you will obey me!”  These familiar words came from my lips more than once when my children were young.  Birthed in the crucible of parental angst, they reflect every parent’s desire for the well being of his or her children.  Our dearest hope is that the love poured into their lives will be reciprocated as evidenced by their will to do their parent’s will.  Obedience occasions great resistance in this day and age, in children and adults.  We want to be our own boss, the captain of our own ship. 

When my daughter was only a few years old, her mother gave her a directive.  The response, with her hand on her hip, was something like this – “You’re not the boss of me!”  That’s been a standing joke in the family now for years.  We laugh at ourselves because we are all tempted to say that from time to time to God – “You’re not the boss of me!”  This does not change the Father-Child of God dynamic.  God says to us – “If you love me you will obey me!”  Obedience to the Great Commandment to love the Lord with our everything (heart, soul, strength) and our neighbor as ourselves is not a suggestion, not a recommendation.  It’s a directive.

In a sermon preached by a dear friend (Dr. Steve Seamands) recently, he said – “The key to unlocking the door to God’s work in our lives is obedience” and “You will only know God to the extent you are willing to obey him.”  In that sermon Steve quoted two saints: “An ounce of obedience is worth a ton of excitement.” – Oswald Chambers; and “The most creative thing you can do is just obey God.” – Sam Kamalesan.

I am reminded of the ninth doctrine of The Salvation Army – “Continuing in a (dynamic, interactive) state of salvation depends upon continuing obedient faith in Christ.”  I added the words in parentheses because our state of salvation cannot be static.  Our relationship with Christ is to be a continually growing and increasingly intimate state of affairs.  He daily pours his love and grace into our lives and waits for our response of love in return (obedience), then he gives more love and grace.

Dr. Seamands' sermon included the story of Christ’s first miracle at the wedding in Cana.  When he directed the servants to fill the six water jars (120-130 gallons), they were completely obedient.  They filled every jar to the brim.  In the context of their obedience, Jesus changed the water into wine, the very best wine.  When we are obedient to Christ in the small things, we need not be surprised by the miracles he occasions.