Do What You Need to Do to Choose Obedience

Mom is 90+ years old! What a miracle! Much of the time, she calls me "Mom." How old do I look? Sometimes she appears so frail. Other times she amazes me with the things she does: I caught her carrying a kitchen chair down the hall and into the family room no too long ago! Often she looks down at her hands, noticing the wrinkles, the brown spots, and the prominent blue veins. She holds them up, wondering at first, but that soon turns to indignation. Look! she commands, as though her skin has, within an instant, turned spotted and leathery. We take great care that she might not fall. She takes her vitamins everyday, we keep watch for her as we round corners to avoid collisions, and when we leave the house, we make sure the dog is unable to get under her feet and all apparent tripping hazards are removed. We know Mom's brain and body are unable to navigate those types of obstacles with agility. And though we've had our accidents, without learning from those experiences and taking necessary care, "accidents" become irresponsibility. Our actions or failure to act could be negligent.

I've heard people talk about falling into disobedience or bad habits as though that's some sort of simple accident. I'm not so sure. Disobedience is in our nature. Romans 3:10 and 3:23 tell us that no one is righteous, all have sinned; Romans 5:12 says we all fall short-- naturally. If we don't take the steps necessary to guard ourselves against falling into bad habits or disobedient behaviors, it's really no accident. If we know the risks and choose to ignore them, the consequences are hardly accidental. In Joshua 24:15, Joshua, leading Israel into the Promised Land, tells them to choose whom they will serve. By choosing a master, they will place themselves on a path, the path of serving God or the path of serving some other authority over their lives. If they choose to obey their stomachs, they will focus on eating, growing crops, getting food; they will do the things necessary to obey the growling that demands immediate attention, and they will not do anything that would cause them to disobey their appetites. They will be certain they do not fall into hunger. There will be no accidents. If they choose to follow God, as Joshua and his household did, they will avoid things that promote or encourage or skirt the margins of disobedience. They will choose the things that help them to obey. We, too, must choose.

So, what things should we choose to help us obey? What are steps we need to take to prevent disobedience? Psalm 119:11 promises that reading, studying, meditating, memorizing Scripture will keep us from sin. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He quoted Scripture to respond to Satan's temptations. Hebrews 10:24-25 says we need to be in fellowship, not just with Jesus, but with other believers, for encouragement and accountability. 1 Corinthians 15:33 cautions us regarding the company we keep. Philippians 4:6 says we can talk to God about anything that's troubling us; Psalm 139:23-24 says He will even show us problem areas in our hearts, our attitudes, and our behavior, if we ask. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says everyone suffers the same temptations (Hebrews 4:15 says even Jesus did), but we can be encouraged because God has prepared a way out. And 1 John 1:9 promises that when we do mess up, we don't have to stay there; He forgives when we ask, sticks out His hand, and lifts us out of our disobedience.

To do or to refuse to do what is necessary is a choice. Failure is no accident, but negligence --or even, blatant rebellion. But when we know the pitfalls, and we do all we can do to choose to avoid them, God honors our choices; He blesses obedience. Read His word, call on Him, take His hand. I doubt it's got age spots. He is faithful to grow us and guide us every sure-footed step of the way!