Sometimes a line not only captures the moment but also captivates the heart. I heard such a line recently in a missionary meeting as a Sarah Mullin from Italy spoke regarding God’s call on her life. “Understanding can wait, obedience cannot!” It has taken me sometime to process it all though at first it made perfect sense. The difficulty I have found in wrestling with that phrase is the “putting it into practice in my life” part. It is very easy to preach and teach this truth but the living it out in real life can be a bit challenging. In the Wisdom of Solomon we find these words, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Now I do not think that Solomon is suggesting we never seek to understand, but I do think he is reminding us that whether we understand or not, God is looking for us to trust in him completely. I remember reading Gen. Douglas MacArthur in Reminiscences where he was recalling a strategy he carried out while at West Point. “The first section was studying the time-space relationship later formulated by Einstein as his Theory of Relativity. The text was complex and, being unable to comprehend it, I committed the pages to memory. When I was called upon to recite, I solemnly reeled off almost word for word what the book said. Our instructor, Colonel Fieberger, looked at me somewhat quizzically and asked, "Do you understand this theory?" It was a bad moment for me, but I did not hesitate in replying, "No, sir." You could have heard a pin drop. I braced myself and waited. And then the slow words of the professor: "Neither do I, Mr. MacArthur. Section dismissed." You and I may not understand the things we face in life. We may not understand what is happening around us and we may not even understand the direction that God is leading us but we must trust in Him and obey.
A few quick observations about obedience. First off, Obedience is not always popular. From the business periodical Bits and Pieces we find the true story of Christian Herter who was governor of Massachusetts and he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch) he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line. "Excuse me," Governor Herter said, "do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?" "Sorry," the woman told him. "I'm supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person." "But I'm starved," the governor said. "Sorry," the woman said again. "Only one to a customer." Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. "Do you know who I am?" he said. "I am the governor of this state." "Do you know who I am?" the woman said. "I'm the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister." I also love the true story shared by John Kenneth Galbraith, in his autobiography, A Life in Our Times, which illustrates the devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family's housekeeper: It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House. "Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson." "He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to disturb him." "Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him." "No, Mr. President. I work for him, not you. When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure. "Tell that woman I want her here in the White House."
Secondly I notice that Obedience is not always easy. Someone penned these words, “Where our Captain bids us go, 'Ties not ours to murmur no; He that gives the sword and shield Chooses too the battlefield, Where we are to fight the foe.” This leads me to the last thought regarding obedience and that is, Obedience is always worth it! Again King Solomon counsels us, “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Roger Staubach who led the Dallas Cowboys to the World Championship in '71 admitted that his position as a quarterback who didn't call his own signals was a source of trial for him. Coach Landry sent in every play. He told Roger when to pass, when to run and only in emergency situations could he change the play (and he had better be right!). Even though Roger considered coach Landry to have a "genius mind" when it came to football strategy, pride said that he should be able to run his own team. Roger later said, "I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment, and victory." Someone wisely said, joy is the bi-product of obedience. So it is only in the surrender to complete obedience to God’s will that we find the greatest joy in our lives!
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