This past weekend we had a blast at Briar Ridge. We were blessed to finally get a group for a summer fishing weekend and it turned out great. We ended up with 15 youth and about 8 adults. And although the fishing for bass and brim didn’t turn out as great as we would have hoped, the working of God’s Word couldn’t have been better.
We were happy to have a new pastor and his wife from our community come up and take part. Bro. Stephen Slump spoke of Abraham and Isaac, and how God gives us the strength we need in whatever situation we come into. He also spoke on Peter and getting out of our comfort zone. Saturday afternoon Bro. Maury Jones brought a message of doing what God says. He had a boat set up where everyone had to cast a fishing pole towards a bucket. If you listened to him, Maury would instruct the children on when to release and if you did as he said you were a whole lot more likely to get where you were aiming than if you figured it out on your own.
And that’s where this blog really starts. The Bible tells us in 1 Samuel 15:22 that “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” So many times, in our lives obedience is one of the hardest things to do. Waiting on the Lord is tough, not figuring the problem out your self and Trusting in God is tough, stepping out in faith into the great unknow seems impossible. But that is part of our calling. It’s letting God lead and guide us without question. Obedience is allowing Christ to be Lord of your life.
Christianity isn’t about a set of rules and regulations. It’s not about do’s and don’ts. It’s about being obedient in the good times and bad. It’s about stepping off that cliff knowing that the only thing that will catch you is God. The life of a Christian isn’t easy. It rains on the just as well as the unjust. We all go through things that we don’t know how to make it through. But as Christians we have a God who knows the outcome. We just have to have faith, trust, and walk in obedience.
I’ll leave you with this, last night my pastor preached on Obedience. (Seems like God may be driving a point home for me) He used one of the best illustrations and I’d like to use it now. When the Titanic was sinking, everyone rushed for the lifeboats. And those lucky enough to get on them probably thanked God the rest of their lives. But think of the ones on the boats that were over filled, people holding to the sides begging to get in. There wasn’t any more capacity on some of those boats. Could you imagine how horrible it was to have to watch your fellow passengers drown?
We as Christians are on lifeboats, we are safe from Hell. But we are looking out at a sea filled with those that aren’t in the boat. Are we reaching out to help those in need? Are we trying to lead and guide the lost? Or are we just happy to be in the boat our self? We aren’t called to sit in the boat… we are called to go and make disciples. We are called to the work of our Lord. I know this may not be what we all want to hear, but it is one of the most important messages that Christ is telling His church today.
Obedience is Noah building an ark when there was no such thing as rain. Obedience is stepping out of our comfort zone, like Peter stepped out of the boat onto the Sea of Galilee. Obedience is Abraham and Isaac climbing a mountain and believing that God would provide. Obedience is never giving up on a goal and giving it your all, like all those kids this weekend with that fishing pole. Don’t give up on others, because God never gave up on you. Be thankful for His mercy and grace, and show it to everyone you meet. It’s what we are all called to do. So, let’s be about the Father’s business.
Love in Christ,
Briar Ridge
