Disobedience — Only the First Step

We live in a culture that resists all authority. Disobedience marks the first step toward rebellion and collapse of individuals and societies. But it doesn’t stop there.

Consider first steps; the first steps of a tottering toddler, the first steps toward a degree or promotion, or the first steps of a life-long relationship. We anticipate those first steps will lead to progressively greater and greater steps. However, first steps may also lead to a downward (or potentially irreversible) slide.

“Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.”
C.S. Lewis

Such words both inspire and warn those willing to listen. Little decisions today bear consequences tomorrow. Whether we agree or not, the law of sowing and reaping applies to both the spiritual and nature realms around us.

“Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.”
Galatians 6:7-9 MSG

Obedience

“At the right time,” every selfless and godly action and word will bring a “harvest” of even better return, if we don’t give up or quit.

Few measure up to the tenacity of that tottering toddler. Sometimes, we fail. Sometimes, we fall. At times, we give up too soon. One good step leads that little one to another and then another — each one more secure. Soon their determination turns tiny steps into giant leaps. Why? They refuse to quit. They instinctively know that mature people stand and walk.

So where does obedience fit into the story?

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.”
2 Corinthians 10:5-6

Thoughts determine steps. Random thoughts of good or evil bombard our minds, but we determine which ones to focus on and follow. We are warned to take thoughts seriously. Even in areas where we have gained victory, we must “be ready to punish every act of disobedience.” The Greek word translated as punish means to “give justice over, defend, avenge, and vindicate.” In the battle for our minds, we defend the territory we have already won.

“The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity” (2 Corinthians 10:5-6 MSG).

Rebellion

Neil T. Anderson in “The Steps to Freedom in Christ” teaches that rebellion comes in many forms. He offers a practical check list worth reviewing. Do any of these points of rebellion apply to you?

• Civil government (including traffic laws, tax laws, attitude toward government officials) (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-17)
• Parents, stepparents, or legal guardians (Ephesians 6:1-3)
• Teachers, coaches, school officials (Romans 13:1-4)
• Employers (past or present) (1 Peter 2:18-23)
• Husband (1 Peter 3:1-4) or wife (Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:7) (Note to husbands: Ask the Lord if your lack of love for your wife could be fostering a rebellious spirit within her. If so, confess it as a violation of Ephesians 5:22-33)
• Church leaders (Hebrews 13:7)
• God (Daniel 9:5, 9)

Dr. Anderson includes this prayer of confession to align ourselves back to godly submission:

“Dear Heavenly Father, You have said that rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft and arrogance like the evil of idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23). I know that I have not always been submissive, but instead have rebelled in my heart against You and against those You have placed in authority over me in attitude and in action. Please show me all the ways I have been rebellious. I choose now to adopt a submissive spirit and a servant’s heart.
Heavenly Father, I confess that I have been rebellious toward __________ by __________. Thank You for Your forgiveness. I choose to be submissive and obedient to Your Word. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.

Serious Consquences

“Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you …”
1 Samuel 15:23

A mother’s warning to a toddler prevents her little one from being burned or running into moving traffic. A father’s admonition turns a child toward the path of life and peace. In the same way, God marks out a direction of blessing and reward for us, if we listen and obey. Rejecting the ways of God carries serious consequences.

We may think we get away with something when in grace God delays those consequences. However, in His perfection, He cannot and will not overlook our disobedience. Though appearing severe, defying divine authority carries the same effect as engaging in witchcraft or idolatry.

This may seem slight to many of you, but one of my patterns of disobedience included disobeying traffic laws — such as failing to fully stop at stop signs or exceeding the speed limit. Even though in years past my rebellion reached far greater proportions, God showed me that if I willingly disobey in one area of my life, I have opened the door of disobedience to other ways. He spoke very clearly to me, that if I undermine authority in any area of my life, then everything else will ultimately collapse. It was and is a price I am unwilling to pay.

So may friends, I humbly ask each of us to search our hearts and our habits for areas of disobedience or rebellion. May we bring them to the Lord with all seriousness, confessing our sin before Him. Let’s come clean and live clear of condemnation. Let’s close the door to the enemy’s tactics to enslave us and bring every part of lives into submission to Him and the authorities He has established before us.

Obedience or disobedience? We choose. The consequences will effect ourselves and all those around us.

May we reap a generational harvest of blessing as we faithfully follow Him.

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