Delayed Obedience is Always Disobedience – kenbarnes.us
Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” Genesis 24:55-56 ESV
Delayed Obedience is Always Disobedience. It can be just as detrimental to your walk with God to delay your obedience to God as outright saying no to him.
I once worked with Youth With a Mission, recruiting young people for short-term mission trips. We did short dramatic skits in churches to recruit young people. One skit had a young person considering a mission trip, and the Devil whispered things in the young potential missionary’s ear to deter him. The Devil told him he would lose all his creator comforts, like the kind of food he likes to eat, the hair drier, or some dangers he may encounter in a foreign land. The young man resisted all the Devil’s temptations, but then Satan came back with something that sounded so reasonable. He said, “Sure, you are supposed to go on a mission trip, but why the rush? You have plenty of time. You have the rest of your life. There will be a time that is more convenient.”
Abraham’s servant had a task, and he knew incomplete or delayed obedience would hinder getting the job done. The truth of the matter is that the first time God speaks is always the most convenient time to obey. If we delay, our second chance will always be more difficult. If we delay too long, life happens, and the opportunity God has placed in front of us is no longer there. The Bible tells us in Psalms 119:60 ESV, I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. When the Bible speaks about God’s people listening to him, the meaning is inherent in obedience and not just hearing something. There is always some action taken.
Is God trying to speak to you through his Word, in that still small voice, or through wise counsel on a point of obedience? Take to heart the songwriter’s words, “Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
Pray with me. Lord, help us to obey you immediately and in detail to all your commandments. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Image used by permission from Microsoft.
Ken Barnes, the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing and Broken Vessels through Kindle Direct Publishing.
Ken’s Website— https://kenbarnes.us/
Ken blogs at https://kenbarnes.us/blog/
Email- [email protected]
