Our Response to the LORD
It is a truth; we are known by others according to the job we do as we earn a living. While it is so important to “earn” a living, if we are not careful, the “earning” will become more important than the “living.” This morning, I am reminded that the blessing of God’s gift of salvation comes with great responsibility. NEVER would we want for a minute to be excused, set aside, or be banished from the family of God (once we share in the glorious acceptance into God’s family). NO, NEVER!
As such, as a child of God, we belong to God now, and as HIS children, we are to obey our Father.
As such, as a child of God, we must walk in service to our Father, serving as the hands and feet of Jesus, God’s Only Son.
As such, as a child of God, we immediately exclaim, “I will do as You say, LORD: As You lead me to do, As You lead me to go, & As You lead me to speak. I will.”
Today, I am focused on these two words: I—WILL! No hesitation. No pause. No “freeze-tag” as my five-year-old niece explained last night when she described to her four-year-old cousin the way one was to watch television and then go to the kitchen for a snack. Brielle said to Clementine, “You just mute the TV.” I overheard the comment and replied, “Mute is when there is no sound, so do you mean pause instead?”
“Yeah, pause,” Brielle said, not looking at me but at Clementine instead.
“You just pause it,” Brielle exclaimed as she held up her tiny arm, demonstrating with her imaginary remote control how to perform this task. She then gave a most beautiful analogy for Clementine. Brielle looked at her and said these words: “It’s like freeze-tag; you just FREEZE!” Brielle said as she again gave a body description of what this action looks like. Freezing her tiny body in mid-sentence, Brielle stood in the kitchen, showing Clementine what freeze-tag looks exactly like in action. BEAUTIFUL, and God allowed me the opportunity to stand with these two precious girls as they shared this God-centered conversation. At four and five, they knew how to obey. As children, they had learned the importance of obedience.
“I will do as You say, Lord.”—cannot be lived as a game of freeze tag.
“I will do as You say, Lord.”—cannot be lived as we pause in our obedience, running here and there instead.
“I will do as You say, Lord.”—cannot be lived as we play with our Christianity, muted and un-listening when God is speaking to our heart.
There is a HUGE difference in “I will do as You say, Lord.” (period) & “I will do as You say, LORD!”
Notice the CAPITAL LETTERS revealing the authority.
Notice the comma signifying the One who is our Master.
Notice the exclamation point denoting emphatically, with no hesitation—“I WILL, LORD!”
“I will do as You say, LORD!”—means “I will, LORD, do as You say, even when I can’t see the outcome.”
“I will do as You say, LORD!”—means “I will, LORD, do as You say, even when I don’t exactly know how to do the task You have led me to do.”
“I will do as You say, LORD!”—means “I will, LORD, do as You say, even when I don’t understand what, where, when, or why.”
This morning as I sit reading God’s Word, I am reminded of the way these two beautiful little girls revealed God in the kitchen last night. I find myself drawn to Simon BEFORE he was the Apostle Peter, BEFORE God changed His name, and BEFORE God called Simon to follow Him. God reminded me that obedience to Him has no hesitation, no pausing, no mute button, and no “freeze tag” responses. Our response to the LORD, our obedience to God must only be with expediency, with quickness, and with no hesitation.
“Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; [also called the Sea of Galilee]
and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.
And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little distance from the land. And He sat down and continued teaching the crowds from the boat.
Now when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
Simon responded and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”
And when they had done this, they caught a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to tear; . . .
But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” . . .
And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear; from now on you will be catching men.”
When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.” [they did—Simon Peter, and his partners James and John] (NASB 2020—Luke 5: 1-6 & 8 & 10b-11)
- Jesus stepped into Simon’s boat.
Simon pushed out his fishing boat a little distance from the land.
- Jesus spoke to Simon, giving Him the task to be done.
Simon pushed out his fishing boat into the deep water.
- Jesus knew where the fish of the sea lived.
Even though he was weary from a night of working, Simon let down his net into the deep water as the LORD commanded.
- Jesus provided the blessing.
Simon was amazed by what he saw when he obeyed the LORD.
- Jesus knew their nets wouldn’t hold the catch of fish He provided.
Simon immediately fell at the feet of Jesus.
- Jesus is LORD; Jehovah is LORD. God is GOD of all, even of us.
- Jesus is GOD’S SON; JEHOVAH is GOD; ALMIGHTY GOD is GOD of all, even of those who are not yet HIS.
Simon recognized and proclaimed his sinfulness.
- Jesus spoke to Simon, called him by name, and gave him the next task HE wanted Simon to do.
Simon, James, & John obeyed, left everything they once thought was important, and followed Jesus.
Simon learned obedience by obeying God.
Simon’s relationship with the LORD grew as Simon walked through his days following Jesus Christ.
Simon knew EXACTLY who Jesus Christ was & is & will always be!
“Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” . . .
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
(NASB 2020—Matthew 16: 13 &16)
Bible theologian William Tyndale once spoke these words: “If our desire is to please God, pouring water, washing dishes, cobbling shoes, and preaching the Word is all one.”
Thank you Brielle & Clementine. Even as little girls, you have revealed the TRUTH of God.
Thank you Brielle & Clementine for your lesson, for reminding us that “freezing OR pausing OR muting” in our response to God is NOT AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE!
Obedience to God may bring many great challenges.
Obedience to God ALWAYS requires us to make a necessary decision.
Obedience to God ALWAYS brings spiritual blessings.
Obedience to God ALWAYS draws us into a deeper relationship with our LORD.
Obedience to God ALWAYS connects to our responsibility to God as His children.
Obedience to God ALWAYS provides us opportunities to see God move.
Obedience to God ALWAYS offers us daily worship times as we walk with Jesus our LORD.
Our Response to the LORD must be demonstrated—“I will do as You say.”