Assent? Obedience!

Obedience More Than Assent

Here is something Jesus showed me, suddenly, in a flash. All the bits of what He was showing were there, right in the front of my consciousness:

It was the moment I became a Christian all those years ago.

I knew then that I agreed with the many preachers and teachers I had heard: the spiritual world is real, and it's Creator and Ruler is God, Father, Son and Spirit; and God is just and righteous and eternal.

I gave assent to the idea that to become Christian I would have to repent and offer my past rottenness and sinfulness to God in exchange for forgiveness and eternal life. I agreed with these propositions, but felt unable to take the next step.

Then something happened.

The preacher gave his alter call. I was standing quietly and praying. "Maybe next year" I said to myself, "I'm not ready yet".

Clearly I felt strong, cool fingers circle around my wrist and give a gentle tug, much as to say "come now, come with me". I looked around expecting to see Trish grinning at me. No Trish. No-one at all.

Who took my arm? Who gave me an encouraging tug?

Straight away I knew: Jesus Himself was calling me. The Creator and Lord of the whole universe came and took my arm: "Come now, come with me".

In a heartbeat assent was overtaken by obedience. My mental and emotional agreement was overwhelmed by Jesus' gentle and personal love for me.

Jesus wants me to do stuff for Him, simply because He asks. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

Obedience. In love, and from love. Hear His Word. Simply obey. Peace.

Hallelujah!

Real Life Today

Jesus has been speaking to Trish and me again over these past weeks. When big things are afoot Jesus speaks to both of us, separately and in different ways. When we realise this is happening we spend time praying together to find the essence of what He wants. It's happened before, especially around big changes for us or even for our whole family.

This time He is asking us to start a prayer meeting in our house one Saturday night every month. This is big. It will mean we'll spend half our Saturday nights working for Him, and our social options will be very constrained!

We are happy and willing to do what Jesus is asking. Even so I have been praying and talking with Him about it; so in a flash He reminded me of that day, more than a quarter century ago. Glory be!

Favorite Scriptures:

(Luke 5:27)
After these things He went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow me!"

(John 10:27)
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me".

(2 Corinthians 1:20-21 (The Message))
Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In Him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting His Yes within us.

(2 Corinthians 7:15)
His affection is more abundantly toward you, while He remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you received Him.

(1 Peter 1:2)
.. according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Thank you Jesus.

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https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2012/02/obedience-more-than-assent.html

Amen.