I don’t praise a man after he’s done the very thing I’ve warned him not to do.”
–Ralph Compton (The Goodnight Trail)
“Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
“Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
–Matthew 25:30 (NLT)
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There is a very pertinent verse that is often overlooked in the Gospel of John. I have heard the story about the wedding in Cana, and I know that the mother of Jesus came to Him for help. Jesus proclaimed to her that His time had not yet come, meaning that He was not entering into His ministry openly yet. However, being the dutiful son, He will do what His mother requests. Now, get this verse from the mouth of Mary:
“His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.'”
–John 2:5 (NKJV)
This was great advice at the time, but it is so simple that we often don’t think much of it. No questions, no hesitating on our part, it is very simple, do what He says. Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (NKJV) Such a simple statement, but do we really keep His commandments, or do we begin to make excuses of one type or another?
I was reading the other day and came across this by James Merritt. He wrote that when we are going through a situation where you don’t know what to do God will test you. He will test you in two main ways: patience and obedience. When He finally shows you what to do–do it. “Whatever He says to you, do it.” “God tests us by our faith, but He measures us by our obedience.” (Merritt)
Perhaps the biggest challenge in life is doing what you already know to do. James wrote, “Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (4:17, NKJV) It is not hard, but we fight it. Do right, but we end up failing so much of the time. What would have happened if the servants had not obeyed Jesus? The miracle would not have taken place; it is as simple as that. Obedience is/was required.
Read Romans 1 where Paul states that the people knew God, but they would not obey. They did not want to retain the knowledge of God; they preferred to do what was right in their own eyes. One reason for this is that man does not like to obey. Oh, that we could pray the prayer of Jesus, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42) then go on and obey. Jesus was obedient even unto death (Philippians 2:8) are we not to be obedient in picking up our cross. “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Obedience shows our faith; it shows that we trust God. In the little things–obey. In the hard things–obey. Walk daily in the truth of His Word, in other words–obey. Obedience also shows character. In the words of James B. Adamson, “The wind of tribulation blows away the chaff of error, hypocrisy, and doubt, leaving that which survives the rest…the genuine element of character.” No matter the trouble, the trial, the situation or circumstance–“Whatever He says to you, do it.” Perhaps the “biggest challenge you will face is doing what you know to do.” (Merritt)
———————————-
There is a very pertinent verse that is often overlooked in the Gospel of John. I have heard the story about the wedding in Cana, and I know that the mother of Jesus came to Him for help. Jesus proclaimed to her that His time had not yet come, meaning that He was not entering into His ministry openly yet. However, being the dutiful son, He will do what His mother requests. Now, get this verse from the mouth of Mary:
“His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.'”
–John 2:5 (NKJV)
This was great advice at the time, but it is so simple that we often don’t think much of it. No questions, no hesitating on our part, it is very simple, do what He says. Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (NKJV) Such a simple statement, but do we really keep His commandments, or do we begin to make excuses of one type or another?
I was reading the other day and came across this by James Merritt. He wrote that when we are going through a situation where you don’t know what to do God will test you. He will test you in two main ways: patience and obedience. When He finally shows you what to do–do it. “Whatever He says to you, do it.” “God tests us by our faith, but He measures us by our obedience.” (Merritt)
Perhaps the biggest challenge in life is doing what you already know to do. James wrote, “Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (4:17, NKJV) It is not hard, but we fight it. Do right, but we end up failing so much of the time. What would have happened if the servants had not obeyed Jesus? The miracle would not have taken place; it is as simple as that. Obedience is/was required.
Read Romans 1 where Paul states that the people knew God, but they would not obey. They did not want to retain the knowledge of God; they preferred to do what was right in their own eyes. One reason for this is that man does not like to obey. Oh, that we could pray the prayer of Jesus, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42) then go on and obey. Jesus was obedient even unto death (Philippians 2:8) are we not to be obedient in picking up our cross. “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Obedience shows our faith; it shows that we trust God. In the little things–obey. In the hard things–obey. Walk daily in the truth of His Word, in other words–obey. Obedience also shows character. In the words of James B. Adamson, “The wind of tribulation blows away the chaff of error, hypocrisy, and doubt, leaving that which survives the rest…the genuine element of character.” No matter the trouble, the trial, the situation or circumstance–“Whatever He says to you, do it.” Perhaps the “biggest challenge you will face is doing what you know to do.” (Merritt)