Obedience

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. I Samuel 15:22

Have you ever heard someone say, "It's easier to get forgiveness than permission"? Not so, with the Lord. He wants us to do what He tells us, rather than disobeying and asking for forgiveness later.

All through the Bible, you will see instructions to obey the Lord, to obey His commandments, laws, precepts, etc. Even Jesus learned to obey.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Hebrews 5:8

When we were children, we thought becoming adults would allow us to be independent; we would be able to do anything we want, and wouldn't have to let anyone tell us what to do. Little did we know that, even as adults we would still have people to obey. It goes without saying that, regardless of age, we still have to obey God. Obeying Him involves obeying some humans too. Let's see who they are.

If you are a married lady, the first person you are supposed to obey is your husband. Look at Titus 2:3-5 in the banner at the top of this page. You can re-write your wedding vows if you like, to purposely leave out the word obey, but if you are a Christian you still have to do it.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Ephesians 5:22-24


For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. I Peter 3:5-6

Think this is too hard? It's really not. It sounds quite difficult, but if you take the time to choose wisely when selecting a husband, and if you both love each other and love the Lord, it's not all that hard -- most of the time.

We also need to obey our pastor, when he is giving us direction from the Lord and instruction in how to serve the Lord more acceptably.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17

If you are employed and wish to stay that way, you will definitely need to obey your boss. The Bible refers to the employer/employee relationship in the terms of master/servant.

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: Colossians 3:22

In other words, obey your boss, but not for the purpose of 'kissing up'. We obey because we're working for that boss as if we're working for the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Colossians 3:23

We need to obey the laws of our land, and the people whose job it is to enforce them.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. I Peter 2:13-14

There are times when we're not required to be obedient. For instance, if your employer is telling you to do something illegal or immoral, you should definitely disobey. Anyone telling you to disobey one of God's laws should be disobeyed.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

Sometimes, people will take the scriptures out of context, and try to make you think you are required to obey them, even if you're not. I have been acquainted with men in the church who were of the opinion that all the ladies of the church were supposed to obey them, simply because they were men. Do you find any scripture in the Bible that says, "Women, obey men because they say so"? I don't.

I have to obey 1) God, 2) my husband, because God has made him my head, 3) my pastor, because he has to watch for my soul, 4) my boss, because I work for him as for the Lord, 5) the laws and those who enforce them, because I have to be an example to unbelievers, and often those laws are for my own protection.

Do you want to know what the best part is about following these plans that God has set out? When we do it, it works. Things go better and the Lord blesses our efforts.

Being Discreet

What does it mean to be discreet? My favorite dictionary website says: "1. Judicious in one's conduct or speech, esp. with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect. 2. Showing prudence and circumspection; decorous 3. Modestly unobtrusive; unostentatious."

In plain English, that means knowing when to keep our mouths shut, and not doing things to draw attention to ourselves.

The word discreet is only used one time in the Bible in an instructional way. (The other two times were used to describe someone.) There are, however, quite a few verses that refer to discretion, which is the quality of being discreet. A synonym for discreet is prudent, and there are several references to prudence or being prudent.

Let's take a look at some of these verses, and see what we can learn from them.

If you look up at the top of the page, you will see where the Apostle Paul was saying that ladies need to be taught to be discreet (Titus 2:5). It wouldn't hurt young men, either, but we'll let that happen somewhere else. As mothers though, we can teach our sons to be discreet, right along with our daughters.

As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. Proverbs 11:22

Have you known girls or women like this? Someone who is gorgeous on the outside, but will just say anything, and always needs to be the center of attention? Not a pretty site. It's like taking a beautiful diamond and sticking it in a pig's nose. Kind of takes away from the beauty, doesn't it? And the pig is still a pig.

A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. Psalm 112:5

We all need to guide our affairs with discretion. This would fall under definition number two, showing prudence. In other words, using good sense.

The
simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Proverbs 14:15

If we are simple-minded, we will believe everything people tell us, everything we read, and everything we see on TV. Ladies, let's not be simple-minded. We need to get wisdom, so we can be prudent and look well to our going. Don't believe every thing; check things out. Search out the truth and believe that! As Proverbs says, seek wisdom and pursue it.

A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. Proverbs 15:5

Young ladies, don't despise the instructions you get from your parents. I know sometimes it seems like they are always on your case, always preaching. It's because they love you. They want you to get through this life with as few painful mistakes as possible. If you listen to them, even when they're correcting you for something you've done (reproof), you will be prudent. You will be making a wise choice, and it will have good consequences for you.

House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. Proverbs 19:14

See that ladies! If you are prudent, or discreet, you will be considered a gift from God to your husband. In this verse, God is saying to men, Your father may leave you a house and a pile of money as an inheritance, but I'll give you something better. I'll give you a good wife, who knows when to speak and when not to, who makes wise decisions, who is not out to catch the eye and attention of every man in town. He's also saying, if a man has a good wife like that, she is a gift from God. I don't know about you, but I'd rather my husband think I am a gift, than for him to think I'm a millstone around his neck! A pastor we had used to say, A prudent wife is from the Lord – who do the non-prudent ones come from?

Let's all try to be more discreet. We should all think twice, or three times, before letting fly with things we feel like saying. If something is told to us in confidence, it needs to stay that way. Don't even bring it up as a prayer request – too much gossip gets started that way. Let's be aware of our appearance and our actions, and not dress or act in a way that screams "Look at me!" And above all, we need to ask for the Lord's help in this, because we can't do any of it on our own.

Thought for the Day

I read an article this morning, in World magazine, about a couple who left their multi-million dollar careers in America to run a hospital in Ethiopia for people with deformities needing reconstructive surgery. It was moving to read how the man told each patient, or their parents, "Jesus brought me, brought us, here for you (or him, or her)."

Most of us don't have specialized medical training or other skills that would allow us to do huge things for other people. But, we all have something we CAN do to help someone and to glorify the Lord Jesus.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4:11.

While we may not, as ladies, be speakers in the church, we do speak to other ladies, and to our children. We can say what God would say, by speaking from the Bible and sharing Godly wisdom. And we can all minister. This doesn't necessarily mean 'being a minister'. It means helping, offering aid and comfort, and it can also mean teaching.

What abilities has God given you? You don't have to be a professional at them, just willing to use them. Let's make it a point to use our God-given abilities to glorify God through Jesus, and to be a blessing to those around us.

Thought for the Day

What does it mean to be sober? There are several definitions. One of the most obvious is "Not drunk" (in a nutshell). The others can be pretty much summed up in this: "Being calm, quiet, serious; not loud or showy; not drawing attention to oneself".

In I Peter 3, Peter was addressing the wives, and instructing them in how to behave and dress. Look at verse 4: "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." If we have a meek and quiet spirit, that is part of being sober.

Being sober, or sobriety, does not mean that we have to go around with a long face, looking depressed all the time, though.

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:3

Thought for the Day

Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

This does not mean we are all supposed to go get jobs in the construction industry. Neither does it mean that we all get to have a house built to our specifications!

It means that if we are wise, we will contribute to the stability of our homes. Our husbands, if we're married, will be able to trust us and depend on us to carry our share of the load. We will do all in our power to keep our marriages strong. Our homes, whether they be mansions or camper trailers, will be refuges of peace.

But, if we are foolish, we will gripe and complain. We will let the house fall down around our heads, and our husbands will choose to be anywhere but home.

How do we get that wisdom? "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Prov. 9:10.
Then what will happen? "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." Prov. 31:30.