04.11.07 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

How do you respond when someone tells you what to do? My guess is that most of us bristle. We are flaming individualists who don't like to be told to do anything--whether our parents, our boss, our spouse, our friend or our neighbor.

So how does that impact our relationship to Jesus? Do His requests of you make you bristle? All over the place in the New Testament is the call to obey His commands. So Jesus is telling us what to do...not just one thing but all of life!

Is it conceivable that Jesus asks us to do things with OUR best interests in mind? When Mindi asks me to bring up the clean laundry from the basement my response internally is a cringe and a "don't-want-to-attitude." My kids do the same thing to me when I ask them to do something they just aren't as good at hiding it as I have learned to be.

My wife doesn't have me get the laundry only for her benefit. It is for our whole family's benefit. We all want to wear clean clothes, so bringing up the clothes is a part of that process. I know why it is necessary, and that helps.

The great thing about the Scriptures is that they often make very clear WHY. Jesus explains why we ought do what He asks--that is obey His commandments. Listen in:

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:10-11 NLT

Jesus let's us know that He wants us to have His Love and JOY. So He isn't just a selfish ogre wanting His way. Or a big meanie in the sky who wants to take away all the fun. He wants something huge for OUR benefit. His Love and Our Joy.

Walk forward into this week in obedience and His Love and joy.

Press on,
Mike


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