To obey or not to obey

Living out our purpose is tied into our obedience to God. Obedience is not a once off thing. It is a life long commitment to obey God and listen for His voice. Psalm 119:105 says, “Truth’s shining light guides me in my choices and decisions; the revelation of your word makes my pathway clear.” We have to stay rooted in the word and rooted in His truth and God will direct our steps along the way.

Purpose is not defined by one activity or one moment. It is living a life that is surrendered to God ready to do His will. It is about sacrificing everything that does not line up with God’s word so you can live a life that is pleasing to God. How we do that takes many forms but essentially the heart behind purpose is love towards God and people. Love in its true form is sacrifice, so out of that love we serve God in any way possible. Laying aside our own personal rights and taking up our cross daily as we follow Christ (Matthew 16:24-26). Living in purpose is a day by day decision. Otherwise Jesus would not have told us to pick up our cross daily. 

Living in purpose is about pleasing God and has very little to do with title. I love how the Kingdom of God works. If God purposed you to clean the church and make sure there are toilet rolls in the bathroom, if you do that faithfully every week, you will receive your reward in heaven. If God purposed you to greet people at the door and you do that faithfully and with your whole heart, you will receive your reward in heaven. If God purposed you to teach people the Good News and you do that faithfully, you will also receive your reward in heaven. God rewards faithfulness not title.

I recently read about a great evangelist who had a dream that he was standing in front of the Judgement seat of Jesus Christ. Whilst there, he noticed there was a table will all sorts of different crowns on it. However, he noticed that there was one particular crown which was larger than the other crowns and was full of jewels and was beautiful. Secretly the evangelist thought that was his crown for all his work winning people to Christ.

An angel called his name and as he stepped up, the angel picked up a small crown next to the beautiful one. The evangelist told the angel how he had won millions of souls over to Christ and surely there must be some mistake with the crowns. But the angel was adamant that he had picked the right crown. The evangelist was sad about the crown he received albeit he waited to see who would receive the beautiful crown.

Then a little old lady was called up and when she went to receive her reward, the beautiful crown was placed on her head. The evangelist, curious, asked the angel who the woman was and the angel replied, “This is the woman who faithfully prayed for you”.

The reward we will receive in heaven is for our faithfulness in our God ordained purpose in this earth and not our job description. Meaning, whether you mopped floors or preached the message, you receive the same reward if you both did it faithfully. God is not into titles. They are there to help us know people’s roles in the church or in life, but heaven is not governed or moved by them. So, let us determine in our hearts to obey God and to faithfully serve Him all the days of our lives.

Love and blessings,

Melissa Tsingano