I have a confession and sobering repentance that I want to bring light on. God is humbling me and reminding me that my pride and arrogance is getting in the way of seeing His glory.
As you are probably know well, the basics to Christian living is not believing in the existence of God. Belief and faith are two completely different things. I believe that George Washington and Napoleon existed but I have no faith or trust in them.
Obedience Definition
However, with faith comes obedience and obedience consists of submission and willingness.
Submission + Willingness = Obedience
It’s completely the opposite of what we are all taught, what the world tells us, what our friends tell us, what common sense tells us.
I won’t be going into a full fledged post on obedience but what I want to share is how my so called obedience was really rebellion. Oh it seemed righteous, innocent and very obedient but God showed me that deep inside my heart, rebellion ruled.
How?
God’s Authority over People in Power
I’ve written a couple of previous posts where I had disagreements with the authority of my boss. Each of those times, I thought I was in the right by remaining silent and not wanting to disagree and argue further. But the truth was that I was still disagreeing and arguing on the inside. I was also disagreeing and protesting against the way my boss managed and communicated with me, how we weren’t compatible.
God showed me that it wasn’t us that were not compatible but rather my attitude towards him that wasn’t compatible.
For God raises and places all people in their positions.
“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same” (Romans 13:1-3)
My problem was that I was focusing on the person in authority rather than God and the reason behind why He placed him there. It was God that placed him there and by disobeying or whispering ungodly things about my boss, I was really rebelling against God.
God’s Initial Plan to Raise Pharaoh
This is similar to how the Israelites felt when God put Pharaoh on the throne to rule over Israel harshly for 400 years.
The Israelites complained and whined and must have felt like it was a curse yet when we look back from where we are thousands of years later, God purposefully placed Pharaoh and hardened his heart to let all the nations know who He was.
However, through all the miracles in Egypt through Moses, the Egyptians and eventually Pharaoh feared a God they never knew about. This news spread out throughout the land and to the neighboring countries and fear and awe was present in all of Israel’s enemies.
Without such a harsh and cruel leader, God would never have been glorified like He is today.
Stop Doing it By My Own Power and Will
So I don’t know why I’m still in my position at work and I’ve stopped trying to find new opportunities. God placed me where I am in the workplace for a reason and God placed my current boss where he is. It is under His authority that I have to obey rather than try to fix things myself which is eventually pride acting out.
For if it is God who sent all people, then who am I to question and judge his decisions.
The things that I expect and desire don’t often come in the packages that I hope for. It is only by faith and obedience that I am able to decipher the truth and be able to acknowledge it is from God.
I pray that God will allow me to see beyond what is in front of me and for the Spirit to open my eyes and lead my heart into obedience.
I’m sure when I’ve humbled myself and repent from my pride, my eyes will be open.
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