” . . . obedience requires actions. It’s not just having nice thoughts or having good intentions, or hoping something changes; obedience always involves doing things.”- Bob Merritt
“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God’s working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” – Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT)
Bob Merritt concludes Chapter 9 of Done With That as he presents the last three steps in the gardening process.
2. Seeds of rebellion. Have you ever, Pastor Merritt wonders, asked yourself the following question? How can anything that feels so good be so bad? Along with three more predictors, that question’s usually a sign that something’s amiss. Consequently, you:
- rationalize or reason – you convince yourself that something’s okay when it’s not
- minimize – people do far worse than your minor transgression
- outrace your conscience – if you stay busy, there’s no time to think about your entanglement
3. An unlikely place to look for weeds. Above all, the author contends, your greatest vulnerability to rebellion connects in some way to your greatest desires.
4. Childhood weeds. Certainly, God offers us the peace that accompanies obedience. However, the weeds growing in the garden of our hearts weigh on our spirits. As a result, that makes us heartsick. Hence, we must pull that childhood weed of rebellion and confront our dishonesty.
Therefore, our self-control strengthens as we find the courage to confront our sin and take steps to act obediently. In addition, we more quickly recognize when we’re in the weeds as well as what we need to do to get out of them.
Finally, when you find rebellious weeds in your heart, pull them out – roots and all. Because God only has good plans for you. And He intends to set you free, never to harm you.
Today’s question: How do you put into practice Pastor Merritt’s assertion that obedience requires actions? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Friendship with God first – then others”
