Have you read Hebrews, chapter 11 lately? It is such a worthwhile read. In that chapter, God gives us a whole list of people in the Old Testament who obeyed God even though they didn’t have all the answers.
We see an example of someone who built an ark even though he had never seen rain. (Noah).
We see someone who went on a long journey even though he didn’t know where he was going. (Abraham).
We see that same someone who was willing to sacrifice his own son, “…even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.'” (Heb. 11:17)
Obedience, even though _______ is the evidence of faith. The reason people like Noah, Abraham, and others were able to respond to God in obedience is because they had great faith.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith like this: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
I don’t know about you, but I find these examples of faith so inspiring, admirable and in some ways, very hard to emulate.
I always want to know what’s ahead. I want to see what God has in store for me. I want clarity.
Alas, what God wants is my obedience.
He wants my obedience even though I don’t know what’s ahead, even though I can’t yet see what He has in store for me and even though I have zero clarity.
Obedience is not necessarily about knowledge, it’s about faith.
When our faith is placed in God, we can never go wrong. We can act on His commands because we have confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
We can obey, even though.
So, my friends, let us go be radiant this week as we exercise our faith in an attitude of obedience.
Go Be Radiant 
Why does that word obedience rub us the wrong way? Maybe because we like to think we’ve got life all figured out. At age 63 I am pretty sure I never will. One thing I do know is I often thought I was being obedient but it was either with the wrong motive or it was a false expectation; not what my Good God asked of me. But as I draw close to God I am learning He is not a demanding God with unrealistic expectations but a beautiful Savior and wants only the very best for me. I can trust Him and that makes it easier to obey.
Thanks for writing and sharing your gift with us, Suzie. Go Be a Radiant blesses me every time!
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I wonder if obedience rubs us the wrong way because we want to be in control…I think that’s what it is for me at times. Sometimes I just want all the information before I move forward, which isn’t faith at all. I love your idea about God not having unrealistic expectations of us. He knows us better than we know ourselves and gives us everything we need to do His will. He does only want the very best for us, even when we don’t see or understand it. Thank you for you for always replying to my posts, it blesses me every time! 🙂
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