Dave’s Monday Blast – October 5, 2015

In spite of Peter’s vast fishing experience, he returned from a night’s work with nothing to show for his efforts. Have you ever had that feeling? It’s quite possible that the Lord’s request to let the nets down one more time struck him as unreasonable, after all, Peter and his partners were the professionals. Nevertheless, the fisherman complied, and his obedience blessed many.

Scripture affirms for us time and again the value of obedience. Read Proverbs 2:1 – 6. At times obedience to the Lord defies human logic. For instance, who would design a battle strategy that involved only marching and shouting? This of course is exactly how God told Joshua to defeat the great fortress of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-5).

Moses is another example. When he felt unsure about his leadership potential, the Lord gave reassurance in an unusual way…by telling him to “throw down your walking stick”. That action was symbolic of letting go of his semblance of authority, power and support. When Moses obeyed, God powerfully confirmed His choice of a leader for the Children of Israel (Exodus 4: 1-3).

Charles Stanley comments, “Our Father may ask us to do something that seems illogical…perhaps to accept more responsibility when we were hoping to reduce our workload, to leave a position that He provided just recently, or to take on an assignment for which we feel ill-equipped. His plan might feel unrealistic in view of our age, stage of life, or health concerns. We must press forward in obedience regardless of how impractical the request may appear.”

To grasp the importance of obeying, think about children receiving very INTENTIONAL 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. Men of Intention, ALWAYS MAKE OBEYING GOD A PRIORITY.