There are parallels, former procrastinators, between us before the Lord and ourselves as children and as parents. Understanding this even a little increases my desire to enjoy God and bring Him glory.
God loves His children deeply. Our relationship has been established through the blood of Christ. It does not change. However, our fellowship with Him is affected by our obedience. When we resist our heavenly Father, we create obstacles to fellowship with Him. We experience tension, avoidance, lack of enjoyment. Think of Adam and Eve in the garden. Or of a child who resists the parent whose instruction comes from love.
As we say “yes” to God, we grow closer to Him. We get to know Him more deeply. We come to care about what He cares about. We learn that He is faithful because we experience His faithfulness as we obey. But if we resist, we’ll not know His faithfulness, love, provision, strength – not know Him – the way a person knows Him who obeys Him. That person receives the goodness of God as she obeys.
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21 ESV) He shows Himself to those who obey.
He even helps us obey by the power of His Holy Spirit so we can know Him. What grace!
Does this mean we do not sometimes wrestle with the Lord over a hard thing? Of course not. But we wrestle convinced of His goodness, faithfulness, and love. We wrestle knowing His direction is wise and that submission to Him will bring blessing we cannot conceive of from our perspective.
Often procrastination is a default response and a form of resistance to our Lord. It affects our fellowship with Him. This month’s posts lay a different foundation. May we be children who love Him by hearing and discerning His guidance, responding “yes,” and obeying right away. We’ll have the blessing of knowing Him as never before!
What resistance to the Lord is affecting your fellowship with Him?
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