Tag Archives: obedience

“Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!’”  (2 Kings 5:13, NIV)

The disciple of Jesus does well to guard against the popular temptation to be “heroic,” as in aspiring only to do something “big” for God.  God is not impressed with heroism; but God is impressed with obedience — particularly, obedience in the smallest things.

Naaman (a hero in his own right as a warrior and as the commander of the king’s army), was ready to do the big thing for God.  He became angry when he was asked to do a menial task toward the same result.

Remember, it pleased God to deploy a youthful novice with a slingshot against Goliath’s sword and the shield; it pleased God to use a little boy’s lunch of fish and bread to satisfy the multitude’s hunger; it pleased God to rely on the simple testimony of common women and men to announce the resurrection of Jesus.

Be ready, always, to do the “small” thing in obedience to God.  – Luther

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“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. . .”  (Philippians 1:27a, NIV)

To be a disciple of Jesus means surrendering the privilege of self-justification.

Paul reminds us that external circumstances must not dictate our response.  In all that we do, our sole ambition is to please our heavenly Father.  We engage in self-justification at the risk of causing the gospel of Jesus to lose its opportunity to engage those who need it.

Today, resolve to conduct all of your affairs in a manner worthy of the good news of our Lord.  We can do no more; we should expect from ourselves no less.  – Luther

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“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.”  (Proverbs 25:20-21, NIV)

What may be regarded by the common person as foolishness is tactical brilliance in the eyes of God.

Today’s scripture is a blueprint for how the Christian disciple is to engage his or her adversary.  The benefit of this counter-intuitive approach is two-fold: (1) It confounds the enemy beyond words and: (2) it assures the positive notice of our heavenly Father.

To act in this way toward our enemies requires faith in God, and courage.  Be neither ashamed nor afraid to stand both firm and fast wherever it is that God has directed.  – Luther

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