Comments on: Unseen Fruit of Obedience

By: Chris_Tomlinson

Chris_Tomlinson — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:25:13 +0000

Beautiful. So I will go to God and His word and wait to hear His unmistakable voice. Thanks for sharing.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:45:33 +0000

I was edified and encouraged by John Piper's take on the subject here: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteA...

I quit with the "still small voice" concept when I realized that God doesn't mumble.

By: Chris_Tomlinson

Chris_Tomlinson — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:54:59 +0000

Mieke, wonderful example. I'm trying to figure out the still small voice as well. Thank you for sharing…

By: Name Lea

Name Lea — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:41:35 +0000

Type your comment here…to often we think about the cost of obedience and not the cost of disobedience. That being said, we are human. Perhaps, focusing on who much we have (in Jesus) we could just overflow, and maybe not worry.

By: Mieke

Mieke — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:27:31 +0000

Yes i very much liked your story on obedience.For a long time I obeyed a "suggestion with pressure behind it"to e.g. Go and visit your neighbour and she would not be home..frustration,I can't seem to hear Your voice Lord..Over time I learned that often the Lord's voice will come like a spontanious thought, just out of the blue,a quiet inner knowing,no pressure.
An example: I picked some flowers to bring to my neighbour,she was n't home,then": the thought came" why not bring them to the New lady who just recently moved in next door to her,so I did and out of that a friendship has developed
Praying to reach her with Christ's love

By: Kelli

Kelli — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:11:31 +0000

Nutter! Ha! Now THAT's funny!

So great to read this post and all the comments. I am also reading and re-reading/listenting to Celebration of Discipline. I hear Dallas Willard's book on the same topic is also great, but sometimes I feel like Dallas is NFL football and I'm still playing in the Pee Wee's.

I am also about half way through Larry Crabb's Shattered Dreams… another one that deals with not having our hopes fulfilled the way we expected and/or wanted, even though we might be obeying. It uses the story of Naomi from the book of Ruth as his scriptural platform. It's quite terrifying actually to believe that our hopes might not be fulfilled until heaven. So difficult to remove ourselves from our small stories and see our lives as a part of a much, much larger metastory. And thing is… try as we might, God cannot be manipulated. I find some strange comfort in that actually. Again, I'm only about half way through the book.

And oh… of course, The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis… another great one dealing with how little we understand about the big picture and how try to manipulate God to get our way.

Sorry… no answers… only more questions.

By: Chris_Tomlinson

Chris_Tomlinson — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:14:01 +0000

Wow. So obedience doesn't always guarantee immediate blessing.

"All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant. Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way; yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadows of death."

I do love the ending–the appeal is for God's help for His sake, not ours. "Rise up; come to our help! Redeems us for the sake of your steadfast love!"

Thanks for sharing this, Elizabeth.

By: Chris_Tomlinson

Chris_Tomlinson — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:08:21 +0000

Krista, I'm glad you shared your story. One of my hopes is that this would become a place people felt comfortable sharing their own stories. I once read a book that talked about "obedience checks"–sometimes God asks us to do something, and when we obey, He blesses that obedience by bearing more fruit through us or deepening our faith. I don't know if this is always true. But I do suspect there are times when I walk away in disobedience and miss out on something God means for me. I'm glad you didn't walk away that night, and I hope that He reveals Himself to you more fully as a result. Thanks again for sharing…

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:50:22 +0000

I stumbled upon Psalm 44 this morning, and it seems to relate to this discussion. You have to read it all the way through to see where the obedience not paying off part comes in. I love the brutally honest emotion in this Psalm. I don't know that I'd be comfortable saying some of those things to God!

By: Krista

Krista — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:42:07 +0000

My story is not about directly witnessing, but more so that of being available as a servant of God.
First, I wonder when DO I obey God? When it is convenient for me?
I was at the thrift store Friday. I over heard a senior woman say that her purse was stolen while in the store! I had my three yr old with me. I thought that there must be some way I could help. That truly was indeed my first thought–that I could help.
BUT, then I checked that clock. Did I have time to help? How long COULD it take? Is that sad?
I was able to help. I did have to enlist the additional help of my husband. I called and asked him to be home to meet our school age children, just in case I did not return in time.
I helped "Karen" get some phone numbers, gave some advice and simply waited with her (and her friend) in case Karen's Plan A did not pan out. She was thankful and told me that I was her "security blanket."
I felt good that I could help–albeit simply as her security blanket. Perhaps that's ok, if that is what God called me to do.

By: dianemichaelis

dianemichaelis — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:44:37 +0000

Hi Chris,
I really enjoyed this blog. I've been reading Spiritual Disciplines too and I feel like God has been impressing on my heart to pray for healing for someone. However, I'm completely freaked out and definitely questioning God! I know our God works in mysterious and amazing ways, so we'll see what happens. Anyhow, even though you didn't talk to the Papa John delivery person, your story was inspiring to begin to take the first steps of obedience in uncertain circumstances.
-Diane

By: Chris_Tomlinson

Chris_Tomlinson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:24:59 +0000

Diane, thanks for checking in and for your encouragement. And please do let me know what happens as God continues to work in your heart on your freaking out task–sounds terrifying and encouraging all at the same time.

By: Chris_Tomlinson

Chris_Tomlinson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:18:00 +0000

Rejection–that's a tough one for me too. And I just don't get it sometimes. Why is the fear of rejection sooo strong sometimes? In retrospect, it's an irrational fear; in the moment, it's overly compelling. It's good to know God doesn't get down on us–we're loved! But I hear ya…

By: Chris_Tomlinson

Chris_Tomlinson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:16:11 +0000

Thank you for your note. And just so the world knows–this isn't just any old teacher, but my favorite teacher! Thanks MMR…