Go

1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NLT) reads:

But Samuel replied,

“What is more pleasing to the Lord:

your burnt offerings and sacrifices

or your obedience to His voice?

Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,

and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

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 as king.”

I’ve read this passage several times over the years, but it did not strike me the same as it did the morning of April 21^st. What if, in a very applicable situation, we reject the Lord? And what if, in return, He rejects our blessings.

Thankfully, my prayers have shifted from self-centered to others-centered more recently. I have prayed for blessings throughout my life, and then I’d be disappointed if I didn’t get my way. Sorry, but that’s on me, not Him. That’s how I selfishly rolled for a long time.

Reread the text. God wants us to obey! Rebellion and stubbornness are obviously not good things. It takes me trying to pound through things the hard way before I recognize the easier way. I have gotten better at this, but I still struggle trying to do too much on my own. We are strongest when we are weak.

God’s ways are not easy, though. But, if you look at the greatest commandments, there are only TWO. Matthew 22:36-40 tells us to love God and love others. While the concepts are simple, they are often not easy.

Matthew 28:19-20 tells us to make disciples and teach those disciples to obey. Revisiting 1 Samuel 15:22-23, Saul’s struggle, as Samuel points out, is obedience. Because Saul rejected the commands of the Lord, the Lord rejected his kingship.

Commandments and commissions can be a little tricky, or at least they have been for me. Commandments tend to be divine rules. Commissions are specific orders or directions to accomplish tasks. They work well together.

Matthew 28:19-20 reminds us we are to stay where we are and make disciples and teach them to obey.

I kid.

That’s not what it says at all. It says, “Go.”

For a little word, “go” carries a big meaning. Some of us are resistant. Some of us are not. When I tell my dog to go, it means that I want him to move because I don’t want to be drooled on right now. When I tell my kids to go, that usually means, “Go outside and be loud out there; burn some energy.”

I’ve attended churches where “go” for them meant a trip somewhere else (usually another country) to help people. “Go” doesn’t have to be far away, though. It can be local. Recently, for example, our church provided a meal, worship, and preaching for the local homeless. Although I didn’t do much, it was a joy to worship and serve these people. It was incredibly humbling as well.

What does your “Go” look like? Are you called? Where?

When we go and where, it may not make sense. My family and I have gone a few times. We’ve gone to Montana twice. Each time were incredible blessings to us as a family. The ventures showed we can do all things with God’s help. Our faith grew each time. Our family has been catapulted into a better version of ourselves.

We obeyed; He blessed.

Now, we are in East Tennessee. For a few short days last year, we truly were homeless, not having a place to go. We left Montana without a definitive destination in mind. (I’ve written about this in other posts. Check them out if you haven’t and are interested.) But, we left Montana, knowing it was time to go.

God provided the answers to the blanks we had. First came work for my wife and then a place to live. Then came work for me. It was not easy, but it was right. Then, my wife and I started talking about a house. We described details about it, prayed about it. We had looked at houses before, and things never worked out. We looked at several, and frankly, I was growing frustrated. Then, we looked at one and put an offer in that evening. The next day, even though the house was shown multiple times and we were even encouraged to go up on our offer, my wife held firm because she believed it was the right thing to do. As our offer expired, my wife called me and told me it had been accepted.

We obeyed; He blessed.

We essentially set out on faith and let God worry about most of the details. I say “most” because I’m stubborn and try to do things on my own.

My personal word for the year is trust. It helps me be mindful when I struggle. “Come on, Jason. You’re supposed to trust Him.” Our men’s group read a book called Loving God by Charles Colson. How do we love God? Colson said we love Him through obedience.

I don’t know what your version of “Go” is. I don’t know what it looks like for you. Sometimes, I don’t know what it looks for us. But, I do know if you’re not responding to the Lord’s call, you’re missing out. Discernment is a difficult thing. A pastor friend of mine once encouraged us if we were in doubt, go. Do it anyway. The Lord certainly works out the details. If you are like me and want things lined up neatly in a row, it’s really likely things won’t work that way.

We want the straight and easy; we get the crooked, twists, and turns. Even though I want peace and comfort, my family has grown through the challenges.

Love the Lord by obeying. Love others by serving. Share the Word by doing.

Go wherever you will, and may God’s light shine through you and light this darkening world.

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