Continuing with the series of what a disciple is, the second characteristic that describes a disciple is obedient.
This brings us back to what the Scripture points out, "Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I (Jesus) have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19,20)
Without obedience to observe our parents teachings, observing and obeying laws, we would live in a world of chaos and lawlessness. If Jesus had chosen to run away and save His life that fateful day, what do you imagine this world would be like; or if the disciples hadn't obeyed His command? Jesus obeyed His Father and He made the difference in this world; in your life and mine. Praise the Lord! What if the disciples had ignored Jesus and returned to their own homes and their old way of life? God had a plan and I am thankful that Jesus was obedient and so were His disciples.
I think the toughest one for me to grasp was when Abraham was commanded to go and sacrifice his only son. (Genesis 22:8-24) Would I, or you, have the faith to carry out a command so severe; trusting that God would supply another sacrifice in place of our child? Thank God we will never have to make such a choice, as Jesus was the ultimate and divine sacrifice for mankind.
How about Jonah? He tried to run away, but even in the belly of the whale he could not hide from God. He was given a command and God wasn't letting him off the hook! Jonah obeyed, but only after praying and being vomited out onto dry land. (Book of Jonah)
Jonah had a wake up call. I believe many of us get into our little comfort zones and we need a wake up call, too. Personally I pray God doesn't need to go to such an extreme measure to get our attention. This, however, is a great reason to "remain in Christ," so we will be sensitive to His still quiet voice and promptings. In some cases - a loud proclamation, when we aren't heeding His urgings, may be required.
Obedience, I recall a story my mother told me about the first time I disobeyed my dad; I was 2-years-old. I broke a plate, Dad told me to pick it up and I folded my little arms across my chest and refused. (I can see me clearly, as I watch my granddaughter displaying similar rebellious ways) Dad lost it. He was in raged and Mom said he "beat" me until she pleaded with him to stop. Apparently I retained that beating's memory, as he never had to spank me again. Dad had put a lesson of fear into my little innocent life and taught me about the consequence for disobeying him.
God tells us through out the Bible about the consequences for our unrighteous behavior. I think most of us have to have the fear of God put into us before we "listen up," and turn from the things that entangle us.
The Lord spoke to Moses and told him to speak to the rock, before the assembly of people, that it may yield it's water. You shall thus bring forth water from the rock. So Moses took his rod and struck the rock two times, and water came forth. (Numbers 20:1-13) In my finite way of thinking, this was just a little slip up, but Moses was banned from the Promised Land. I can easily have made a slip up like that. Have you ever thought what you would have done? Why was God so severe in delivering this sentence on Moses? Obedience, God had a nation of rebellious men and women looking on and if the leader wasn't going to obey, why would his followers?
How many of us have been humiliated by receiving a speeding ticket? Does your heart do a flip flop when you hear a siren, or you see lights flashing in your rear view mirror? I have not received a speeding ticket in over 28 years and yet this is still my reaction to hearing and seeing the "law" behind me - even if I'm doing nothing wrong which, by the way, is most of the time. We don't hear sirens and flashing red lights when we are tempted to do something that is unrighteous, do we? Don't you suppose that is exactly why God gave us a conscious? We need to pay attention to that inner voice that we have each been given, and save ourselves from more than a speeding ticket.
My sincere prayer is that we all have a conscious that is like the flashing red lights and sirens that tell us to "STOP" when we are approaching the danger of temptation to disobey God. I believe there is no temptation that we can't overcome. "There is NO temptation that has overtaken you, but is common to man and with the temptation He will provide a way of escape." 1 Corinthians 10:13 paraphrased)
