It is said that the Hall of Fame Quarterback Roger Staubach, who led the Dallas Cowboys to the Super Bowl victory in 1971, admitted that playing the quarterback who didn’t call his own signals was difficult 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. 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. So, Roger had a decision to make. Would he allow pride to rule his life and ignore his coach, making himself the star? Or would he listen to the coach and do what he wanted? Staubach later said, “I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment, and victory.”
The Hebrews had a decision to make. Would they obey the Lord or the local gods? Joshua proclaimed his decision loudly in Joshua 24:15 “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Even today, we have to decide. The ‘local gods’ still surround us and tempt us.
Jesus said to the crowd in Luke 9:23 “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” We belong to Him and it should be our desire to love to serve His purposes. We are called to deny our self, take up our cross daily and follow Him. How do we show that we love Him? In John 14:21 Jesus said those who accept and obey His commandments are showing they love Him. He also said that the Holy Spirit will help remind us of what HE taught us.
Jesus was teaching about obedience in Luke 6:48. “It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rick. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.”
When we practice obedience, we’ll build that foundation that will help us weather the storms of life.
David said in Psalm 40:8 “I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”
Remember that false teachers may attempt to distort the truth, dilute it, or maybe even delete it. But God’s truth has never changed, will never be shaken and certainly will not fade - ever! Follow God’s truth by living His Way!
Dr. Charles Stanley summed it up like this: “To grasp the importance of obeying, think about children receiving instructions from parents or teachers. Careful listening is needed for the task to be done safely and properly. Some steps may seem pointless, but the rationale often becomes clear later. Always make obeying God your priority.”
Finally, even our Lord and Savior Jesus submitted to the Will of God. He told us this early in His ministry in John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” He prayed to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42) “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” And He shouted in His last breath “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands.” (Luke 23:46).
Are you ready to submit to and obey the King of Kings? We can’t just study the Word of God. We must OBEY, do what it says. Make Jesus the King of your life and worship Him as our Savior, King and Lord!
Remember "His faithful love endures forever."
Until Next time.....
Chaplain Gray
