When Obeying Isn't So Easy

Our kids have been learning obedience this month at Journey.

Sometimes obeying is easy.

"Okay Zeke, you need to go open your birthday presents!"

"Cai, come on in for dinner."

Sometimes obeying isn't so easy.

"Alethia, yes that IS your baby, but Jude has it right now so you need to share."

"Rainy, it's time to unload the dishwasher again."

Often times, when the kids are given the arduous task of cleaning up and getting ready for bed I have to sporadically yell out "Obedience Check!" to help keep them focused on the task they have been given.  If, at that point, they have been caught disobeying (rolling around on the floor trying to give each other wedgies or throwing Jude's Legos off the top bunk as bombs, ahem) then they get a little "reminder" to keep them on track.  Rapid high-fives are handed out for obedience.

It's not a coincidence that this has been our family focus this month.

Josh and I, well our whole family actually, is in the middle of an obedience check.

The Lord has called us to do something out of the ordinary.  It has literally turned our lives upside down over the past week.  Not in a bad way, but in a different way. 

But just because God has called us to something doesn't mean it's going to be easy.  And it's not going to guarantee the support of everyone around us, even if they are believers.  

God has continually had to give us obedience checks throughout this process.  Sometimes I'm caught serving with a happy heart, yet other times I'm caught on the top bunk throwing Lego bombs.

Stepping out of your comfort zone, and actually living out "everything is God's anyway" and "bless others with what you have been blessed with", are two totally different things.

But as soon as those feelings of entitlement come rushing in, or the selfish need for "normalcy" flood over me I have to remind myself that everything I have has been given to me by God and we will be held accountable for how we manage it.

If God is calling you to something, obey, even if it is difficult.

Don't wait for the obedience check "reminder".

Okay, maybe it does feel good to throw Lego bombs for a few minutes, just don't stay there.  Get back up and keep going.

"Never tire of doing what is right."

II Thessalonians 3:13