Obedience is not really a popular topic in our culture today...even in church. I don't remember the last time I heard a Christian speaker even use the word "obedience."
For most people, it's not a comfortable topic in the workplace. We do our work and our assignments--but does anyone really call that "obeying" the boss' instructions? Not really. It becomes "managing a project" or just simply "doing work." We take obedience out of the equation...because the very word implies that we're not in charge.
Most people aren't into the idea of obedience...but God is. I don't know if I've ever thought about obedience as a cool illustration of God's work in our lives. But it is--especially when we're obedient through our problems.
Paul definitely knew this point well. In this passage, some prophets warned him not to go to Jerusalem. They foresaw challenges for him there (and they were right!). But when Paul heard their advice, he said:
"You're looking at this backward.
The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me,
whether arrest or murder,
but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience.
Can't you see that?"
Wow. Paul was willing to go through an arrest because he knew God could use his obedience to reach somebody. Paul was right. When he was arrested, he was given the opportunity to share his story and to talk about how Jesus changed his heart and his life.
The chapters today didn't say that crowds of people were saved. On the contrary, they were pretty angry at Paul. But in a crowd of people, someone had to be listening, someone had to wonder, "What if he's right? What if Jesus really is the Son of God?" Maybe no one believed that day. But they heard--and they saw--Paul's story in action. That's obedience at work.
Here's a few questions for all of us to consider: How is obedience at work in my life today? Am I allowing God to lead me? How does my obedience (or lack thereof) impact my life and the lives of others--particularly through problems?
Tomorrow: Acts 24-26
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