Obedience

I think we all struggle with obedience from time to time. We don’t want to appear foolish or be taken for a religious nut. Maybe we think what God is asking us to do isn’t significant and it won’t matter if we obey or not.

Wrong.

As we come to the Thanksgiving season, I want to be aware of those who may need my kindness and acts of love. I want to be obedient and attentive to the Lord’s leading.

“So be sure to give to the poor. Don’t hesitate to give to them, because the Lord your God will bless you for doing this good thing. He will bless you in all your work and in everything you do. ¹¹ There will always be poor people in the land. That is why I command you to be ready to help your brother or sister. Give to the poor in your land who need help.” Deuteronomy 15:10-11 ERV

When the Lord is prompting the act of kindness it’s never in vain. No gift is too small when God puts it on your heart.

I remember a time not long ago when Dave and I pulled into a gas station and a man knocked on our window. He offered to wash our windows for a quarter – a quarter, mind you, no one was going broke over giving a quarter.

“I’ll wash your windows for a quarter. Oh, but it doesn’t look like they need washing, do they?” Dave explained no, we had just come from the car wash. To this the man walked on to another vehicle.

As I sat there my heart began to race and I knew the Lord was dealing with me on this. This thought came – give the man the ones you have in your wallet. Really? I figured there were probably 2 or 3 ones but wasn’t sure. I opened my wallet and looked, only one. I took it out and held on to it thinking when he comes back around, I’ll roll down the window and give it to him.

Next thought was this is probably a panhandler or a scam.

Then this thought – Really? You’re going to argue with what I’m asking you to do. It’s only a dollar. Go give it to the man. I jumped out of the truck walked over and gave him the dollar. I told him our windows were clean but wanted him to have this and before I could get the words out of my mouth to say “God bless you” he said them to me.

“The Lord blesses everyone who freely gives food to the poor.” Proverbs 22:9 CEV

I never want to stop hearing from the Lord. I know His voice and when he speaks, I want to be obedient, even if it’s just a dollar. I know I did what my Father asked. Reluctantly, but I did. For many mornings after that I found myself praying for him and asking the Lord to bless him and to protect him.

Just a reminder to be obedient and follow the Shepherd’s lead.

“But the man who takes care of the sheep enters through the gate. He is the shepherd. 3 The man who guards the gate opens the gate for the shepherd. And the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep, using their names, and he leads them out. 4 He brings all of his sheep out. Then he goes ahead of them and leads them. The sheep follow him, because they know his voice.” John 10:2-4 ERV