Avoiding Commands We Don’t Want to Obey

We Christians spend a lot of time figuring out the meaning
of Scripture verses which are not very clear on the surface. What are we going
to do with these verses after they are understood?

a)         Believe
them?

b)         Obey them?

c)         Teach the
meaning to someone else?

d)         Debate the
meaning with someone else?

Normally the vote goes to c) and d).

What about the verses which are very clear? Options c) and
d) then are not part of the multiple choice; everyone understands them. That
means we are stuck with a) or b) or both. Here is a possible evasive
alternative—read them fast and don’t meditate on them.

Here is a better sequence:

            Are the
verses true?

            Are they
authoritative?

            Thank God
for them!

            Meditate on
them!

            Obey them!

Please practice on the following passage:

“Then Jesus said to his host, ‘When you give a luncheon or
dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich
neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But
when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at
the resurrection of the righteous’” (Luke 14:12-14).

You may ask, “Do I have to do this all of the time?” I am
not sure there is anyone with authority to answer your question. Of course, if
it is a rhetorical question, then you already have the answer.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

·      
Have I ever obeyed these commands of
Jesus?

·      
How many times?

·      
Do I want to obey?

·      
Do I intend to obey?

·      
If so, when?

·      
If so, how many banquets am I willing to provide
for how many people?

·      
Or would I rather give money to a skid row
mission so they can obey this command for me?

This post coordinates with today’s reading in the Same
Page Summer Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading
plan, please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with
us.