The Convenience of Obedience

Originally posted here

“Obedience just isn't always the most convenient. In fact, most of the time it's unrealistic for my life.”

Let's just be realistic here for a second.

Obedience is very helpful, and very convenient at times. And I'm not talking about the times when we are the ones being obeyed.

I'm talking about those nasty times when you are told to do something, yet you do not want to do it. When basically not doing it would be called disobeying.

Oh, yeah, those times.

What lovely times.

But seriously, we all will have to admit at some point: Obedience is a necessary part of life, rules are the only strategy we have to stop full-out chaos.

You may not want to stop at those red lights. But in the end it will be the most convenient thing to do to stop from dying in an immediate car crash.

It may seem pretty fun as a little kid to do what ever you want, “forget” half the rules, but even a kid finds obeying the rules will eventually let them get away with more.

Rules.

Any intelligent person will know that it is only logical that life be full of them (personal rules and rules others hold us accountable to), that societies be built by them, that governments be ruled by them.

Then why is it in religion it is the rules we look down on?

What is so wrong about these rules? Is it legalism?

Or is legalism just a word we use to get away with being selfish?

Think about it.

All rules have reason. Especially God's, the one who created reason and logic.

So why do we rebel against obeying?

Why?

Is it that hard to do what is best for us? (Obviously yes, or none of us would eat sugary, artificial foods that kill). ;)

But as to inconvenient?

None of what God has asked is inconvenient. Not any of His word is legalistic. That's our flesh warring against what we want, what we desire.

Because God's love and sacrifice was designed for our convenience, to save us from a very miserable, inconvenient heat.

Believe me guys, the path to Hell may seem more easy and fun, but in the end it sure won't seem like we had made the most wise decision. It won't be so convenient for our skin.

Guys, obeying is good, it is necessary. For our well-being, our soul destination, our relationships.

I have always loved this verse. This story is just so great. It expresses God's desire for our hearts to be right with Him, not in doing what we think is right.

(1 Samuel 15:22) Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Saul had been told to wait for Samuel to perform the sacrifice, but he was too anxious to start the war, afraid that God and Samuel would not be there for him. So he disobeyed and performed the sacrifice, in the end angering God and forfeiting his own throne.

Why do we choose to think that the only way is our way?

Why must we question all of God's commandments to try and see if they will work for our lives, fit into what we think and believe?

Is life that much about false convenience that we forget the truth about obedience?

It's time we draw closer to God, and stop thinking about what we can try and get away with.

Choose to follow Yeshua (Jesus).

Let's stop trying to get around obeying God's will. It will never work out.

(John 14:21) He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

(1 John 5:3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

What Would I Be Wearing?

So, sometimes I have really weird thoughts.

Just like my fashion tastes. I mean, who but me would wear this:

Yes. OK, a little weird, I'll admit. And, yes, I went out in public in this. But, hey, I loved it!

Anyways, to get on point.

As I was wearing this I started realizing each item had a huge story. Each story different, separated by time and place. Yet each of those together had brought me to where I was now, here. Another place, another time.

I wondered, "If I hadn't experienced what I had what would I be wearing today? Would my fashion style be crazier, or more sane?"

The hat is the oldest piece of this outfit. At least the oldest as to coming into my possession. When I was  seventeen-eighteen I knitted for a local yarn shop. I made a decent amount of money doing so, plus I was able to trade for quality yarn without spending my own cash. This hat is one of my favorite things I made myself from that time.

Back when the world saw me as a knitter. I brought my knitting everywhere with me. For every stitch counted. Every moment was money being earned or not.

The skirt came from my time as a Ruby Girl, the second time. Being a Ruby girl changed me in so many ways. Or did it develop me into more of me? I'm not sure. But it was one the hardest and best things I ever did. Some of my best (and worst) memories come from then.

One time while shopping with friends I found the material for this skirt at Walmart and loved it! It was on sale for a super good price. The skirt cost me $1 to make ;)

The shirt was a hand-me-down from a neighbor we met when I first moved to Montana with my family. Back then I was obsessed with embroidery, and knitting, a little. I would take my embroidered tea towels to every boutique-type business or gas station to see if they wanted to buy my work.

The lady who gave me this shirt was one of the first people I asked to buy my embroidery. I now see a lot of her, and have received a good deal of clothing from  her.

The boots came from a family we met at a church we've been regularly attending now for about three years. We almost didn't go to that church... my family has been the type to believe independent of man, straight from scripture not the pulpit. Yet we all needed fellowship. And so we went. It's been a great growing experience, even though we still believe to study from Bible over man first.


And so, my crazy outfit really has a lot to say. And I realize this is true of all my clothes. They all tell a story of my life in Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Texas. Some of the stories are complicated. Some of them determined where I am today. Some of them are merely reminders of memories I'd rather not dwell on... yet how can you throw away a skirt simply because of where you got it from, or who it reminds you of?

I keep the clothes as long as I need them. The memories will come or go anyways. And they will continue to blossom as I live life and experience new things.

Yet, sometimes I wonder, as I did while wearing that above outfit, "What sort of person would I be like, what I would be wearing, if I had done that differently?"

It's an interesting question.

And a reminder that what I wear is influenced by who I am.

What memories do you associate with what you are wearing today? Do you ever wonder what you might be wearing if you had walked a different path than you walk now?