BY Amanda Bible Williams
psst – have you SEEN today’s update? have you had a chance to help us build these apps?
Text: Jonah 3:1-4
The grace pendulum can swing both ways, and in my life I’ve touched the ceiling in each direction. I’m referring, of course, to my response to God’s grace. He is unchanging, loving, merciful, just – and somehow all at once. I, however, am a little less, ahem, steady.
Many times I’ve tried my hardest to earn the un-earnable, to deserve the un-deservable. I’ve been intent on not just striving for God’s grace, but striving well, attaining what is in me to attain, knowing deep down (in that part of you that just knows) that it won’t be enough. And there I swung on that pendulum, so far in the direction of legalism-wrapped-in-pride that I could sweep the ceiling with my fingertips.
And then there are times I’ve tried my hardest to drink it in, striving in a different way. I’ve been hell-bent on being free, not understanding what that truly means. I’ve consumed grace in the same way I indulge my diet soda addiction — grabbing a swig whenever I need a lift, whenever I need to feel OK again. I’ve lived in false freedom and called it the liberty of grace, swinging high in the other direction to touch that same pride-ceiling on the other side.
It’s tough to find the balance, isn’t it?
Here is why I love these four verses in the middle of the book of Jonah: Jonah guzzles grace like he’s never been thirstier for it. But then, without missing a beat, he does something revolutionary. He obeys. And he obeys, it would seem, without hesitation. No calculating all the possible risks, no predicting all the possible reactions of all possible people, no wondering the least amount of obedience he could get away with in the given scenario. God says go, and Jonah went. He “arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord” (Jonah 3:2). And it was no quick trip, you guys.
I picture Jonah with a renewed determination in his eyes and a bolstered courage in his heart, making the three-day trek to deliver a message he knows may very well be ignored. I sense in him something that wasn’t there on the day he fled to Tarshish — the responsibility to obey.
Obedience is not a way to earn God’s grace.
Obedience is not a way to prove worthy of the grace we’ve already received.
But obedience is a responsibility we carry as children of the Lord.
We are commissioned by the Most High to carry His Word to the world — in small, everyday ways and big, go-to-Nineveh ways. Grace should not be the blanket under which we hide from our calling, but the buoy that lifts us to obedience.
“What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”
(Romans 6:15-18)
47 thoughts on "obedience, take two"
-
It’s difficult to find knowledgeable individuals about this topic, but you are like that you know what you are talking about!
-
Prayer warriors please pray for me as I get back on track with quiet time. I’ve strayed off the path as we all know is so easy to do, I’ve let life get in the way and laziness make me a slave to the world. Pray that I can get into a quiet time routine again, I’ve got a new book that will help but I need you all to pray that I can stay dedicated and not let the world distract me. Also I’m struggling at work, God has put me in a position of authority and I willing jumped into that role but now I feel like I’m barely staying afloat. Pray that I can let go and lead how God wants me to Ans that I can have peace in the decisions I have to make. Thank you sisters!
-
Sometimes God asks us to do hard things. When I do hard things I often want those around (especially my husband) me to know it's hard and that I'm making sacrifices. At Bible study a few weeks ago we had a guest speaker and she shared about hard things. "God is looking at me with knowing eyes. He sees every need, sacrifice, and struggle. He cherishes my soul." God sees.
-
Wow. That last sentence just shook my day and rocked my world. Help me not to hide under the blanket, but instead, be moved to obey. Whew. Thank you Lord.
-
I don’t have words…so “thank you” will have to be enough. Thank you…so much.
-
Oh my goodness, Amanda. This was entirely about me! Although I definitely favor the legalism side of the pendulum…
Romans 6:17 spoke such truth into my heart today – obedience from the heart. From the heart. It isn't true obedience if we do it trying to earn something (grace, or anything else for that matter)! Our obedience is only truly pleasing to Him when we obey from the heart – because we know Him and we know that what He asks us to do is for our own good, and the good of His kingdom. -
Oh friends, today I am Jonah. Last night instead of letting God handle and see me through a situation with my prodigal husband, I took matters into my own hands. I let my flesh win. I let fear and doubt win. I let my insecurities win. I went to bed thinking I've ruined everything…all of our progress, all of the work we've put in to reconciling this marriage, wiped away in one 30 minute phone conversation. But this morning I see that isn't true. I am Jonah, who didn't listen to God for a moment because I thought I could do better, I didn't want to let my husband get away with this one like Jonah didn't want Nineveh to be let off the hook.. My storm was a flurry of angry words, accusation and tears. After it all was said and done and I realized the mess I had made, I threw myself overboard in the form of a crumpled, tearful mess crying out to God in my closet. But this morning, God has rescued me. Even though I didn't listen and even though I disobeyed, his work is not over. It's still happening. He had to remind me that I CANNOT do this on my own. His grace is sufficient for me and His power is perfected in my weakness. I can rest and let him take over. My mistake does not negate his work – He is the almighty God and all He asks me to do is obey.
Sisters, please pray for my husband and I!
-
Praying for you now, dear sister!
-
Post Comments (47)