Pastor Tim's Note

The message we heard last Sunday caused me to do some real soul searching; he talked to us about humility that leads to obedience. And from that, I got the message that we are called to radical obedience. Just as Shea talked about Thomas making the commitment, “Let us go so we may go die with you,” we are being called to decide if we will put obedience to Christ above anything else in our lives. A willingness to say yes to Jesus no matter what He asks would truly be radical obedience. It would be acknowledging that His wisdom is greater than ours; His plan is better than ours; our obedience to Him supersedes any plans and agendas we had for our lives. Radical obedience cost, but the rewards will be to hear Him say, “well done good and faithful servant.”

What does radical obedience look like? I read of a pastor in a third world country that felt a call to minister to prisoners who were confined in terrible prisons in his country. His radical obedience led him to confess his crime of being a Christian leader knowing that he would be thrown into prison. Why, so he could live with those he was called to minister to. We may not be called to go to prison in order to chow the love of God, but we will have times when we will be called to surrender something in order to do what He wants done. When that moment comes, will you do so with joy and excitement, or with anger and resentment? It is only when we surrender in joy that we reap the blessings of God for our lives.