Faith, Obedience And Delight
October 7th, 2008
When we have faith in God, we obey him. We don’t say “I’ll obey after I see the results,” but “I will obey in faith, trusting that I’ll see the results later.”
Paul tells us that the gospel he preached had been “made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith.” (RO 16.25-26)
Years ago my friend Brent took a group of us rock climbing. We stood atop a small cliff, maybe 30 feet high. Brent lashed a rope around a large tree trunk, then rigged me up to rappel backwards over the face of the rock. “Go ahead, just lean back and push off,” he urged, “the rope will hold you.” I leaned back slightly and furtively glanced at the ground. Though it wasn’t that high a cliff, I might as well have been leaning backwards over the rim of the Grand Canyon. This would require all the faith I could muster. I had to trust Brent’s ability to select good rope and tie strong knots. I could have talked about my faith in Brent all day, but my faith would have been empty until I acted on it. So I launched myself backwards into space, and found that Brent’s promise that the knot would hold me came true.
Faith is the engine and feelings are the caboose of our spiritual lives. In faith we obey, then feelings eventually follow. Jeremiah proved this:
Your words were found, and I ate them,and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. (Je 15.16)
First Jeremiah obeyed by “eating” God’s words; later he experienced joy and delight.
Most mornings when I sit down to open God’s word, I’m not initially brimming with joy. Reading the Bible is an act of faith. I read, trusting that God will bless me. I don’t usually experience rapturous feelings as I’m reading, but as I have sought by God’s grace to be consistent over the years, God’s word has truly become a joy and a delight to me.
Whether it’s reading God’s word, rejoicing in a trial, or forgiving an offence, the obedience of faith comes first; delight comes later.
photo by patrickkeane
Categories: Faith |
“Faith is the engine and feelings are the caboose of our spiritual lives.”
So often the temptation is to let my feelings lead & guide, instead of bringing up the rear. That is an excellent illustration. I’ve been rock climbing & repelling and it requires much faith and much action. Sometimes trusting God in obedience is like being up in the air 90 feet and “jumping” down…it’s so scary, but there’s really no choice. And the end result is amazing (repelling was fun). I’ve never been so relieved to be on the ground. But, I was fine. My friend kept me from falling and killing myself. God’s even more faithful than a friend. No matter how scary the trial, I’m secure in His arms. I just walk in obedience and let Him guide. He saved my wretched soul. If He can do that, He can take care of me until He brings me Home.
Hey Yeller,
“He saved my wretched soul. If He can do that, He can take care of me until He brings me Home.” Excellent comment. If only we could always remember that!
Hey there Mark!
I totally resonate with your comment about most mornings your not brimming with joy. It’s so funny that I read this today, I’ve been experiencing a bit of a dry spell in my quiet time, not overjoyed at 6am? who’d thunk that!
It’s as you said in your post, it’s an act of faith and faith is that engine that pulls us along and slowly our feelings catch up. But even if they don’t we’re still to act in faith and trust the Lord with every minute part of our lives, even the tired grumpy parts.
Great post, I really appreciate you and Stephen’s thoughts and I love your music too by the way, speaking of things encouraging!
Blessings
Ron Reffett
Hey Ron,
Thank you for your continual encouraging comments. Yeah, it’s hard to feel excited at 6 am. And you are right - even if our feelings don’t catch up we’re still to act in faith and trust the Lord. One thing is certain though - our feelings will catch up to us in heaven and then we’ll see the full fruit of our faith.
Thanks again, Ron!