Which is more important to God? Obedience or faith? They are equally important, but faith must always precede obedience. In other words, we need to begin our obedience without a legalist mindset but with a grace mindset. Hebrew 11:6 says, “And without faith, it is impossible to please God.” This reminds us that we were created in Christ to live dependent on God. That is how humans are designed to live. When we do, the obedience of good works and doing what our Father tells us to do will follow.
For example, I greatly love sharing the gospel with those who don’t yet know Christ. It happened recently in a very natural conversation. I was talking to a 30-something and was asked about our counseling ministry. I knew this person wasn’t a believer, but since they asked, I thought God might be working, so I shared, depending on Him to lead me. It was marvelous as I shared with them how God values each person in the world so greatly that he sent the most valuable thing he had, Jesus, to die on the cross for them. I preceded on by telling them that God’s opinion of us is powerful and explained the parables of the treasure found in a field and the pearl found by the merchant (Mathew 13:42-46). This person was intrigued when I explained that the person who gave all they had to find the treasure and the pearl was Jesus. And that we are that treasure and that pearl.
It was a brief conversation, but at the end, the 30-something said, “So the main issue in your counseling is to help people understand their identity.” I responded, “You nailed it!”
That was the completion of the conversation, but I knew I had just experienced a divine appointment from God through me, He had shared exactly what this person needed to hear. I felt no need to ask him to become a Christian because my sense was that it was simply information to move him a step closer to receiving Jesus.
Do you see the point? I was led to depend on Christ in me, follow the Spirit’s lead, and let Him say what He wanted as a part of the Great Commission Jesus told us to fulfill. It was incredibly joyous!
Depend on Christ this week, follow His lead, and obey in those moments He is asking you to do something you may not fully understand or struggle to do. There is joy in this from Him!
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
