“Trust and obey, for there’s no there way To be happy in Jesus But to trust and obey” - J.H Sammis SASB #690
I read the following quote on social media this week:
“Why do babies laugh when their fathers launch them into the air? Because they know the same hands that launched them are there to catch them. That is trust.”
I don’t actually know if that is true or not since, although I undoubtedly experienced it as an infant, I have no recollection of any emotion at the time. However there were subsequent times I did do some (for me) potentially scary things knowing that my father would not let me fall — like riding on his shoulders. Getting up and down always felt a little traumatic, but I did enjoy the experience.
However, once we learn to trust a whole world of new possibilities and exciting experiences opens up for us. I have friends who have willingly jumped out of perfectly good airplanes on more than one occasion, trusting a few yards of fabric to keep body and soul together! I have been privileged to make presentations on the subject of evangelism from time to time and I like to include the question, “What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?” And then I follow up quoting Paul writing to the Philippians,
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 KJV
Or if you prefer a quote from Apollo 13, “Failure is not an option!”
And of course, trust is something that becomes easier as it is exercised. Believing and acting on God’s promises and seeing the outcomes helps to strengthen faith. I’ve now lived long enough for this not to be much of a problem since the picture in the rear-view mirror proves that God can be trusted absolutely.
But — Obedience! — now there’s a totally different kettle of fish!
I don’t know if it’s been scientifically studied, but any parent will tell you that the first one-syllable word a child utters is “NO!”. From our earliest days our sense of will asserts itself and if left to flourish by its own inclination it leads to rebellion at best, chaos and anarchy at worst. Most of parenting is directed at guiding and shaping the will of the child in light of the collective experience of society. How many parents have uttered the words, “…but it’s for your own good” when having to discipline a defiant child who prefers his own way of how things should work? Neglecting to provide such guidance is not only not in the best interest of the child, but can be construed as abusive and evil.
Obedience can be seen on a spectrum. At one end there is malicious compliance which follows the guidance in seeming obedience, but does so in a way which will backfire on the one asking for obedience. In the middle is resignation, which reserves the right to take back control if things don’t appear to be working out. And on the other end is submission which believes that the one asking for obedience truly knows better than we do and can be trusted to have our welfare in mind in all situations.
I am always awed and humbled by the words of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Read it again yourself in Matthew 26:39 and Luke 22:42. For me it’s the question that comes right before the “nevertheless”. Jesus is asking the Father if there’s any alternative, is there a “Plan B”? If there is, he’d really, really prefer that because he’s worried that as a human he might fail at “Plan A”. And then that marvelous word which stands as the hinge of history, the point at which Jesus shows that as humans we too can be totally in God’s will, “nevertheless”!
Paul is equally awed in writing to the church at Philippi when he says:
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11 [NIV emphasis mine]
“Plan A” was not only scary, it was ugly. Given a choice of the way to die, any observant Jew would choose any method except being hung from a piece of wood — that was considered the ultimate curse.
“Nevertheless”!
Jesus gives us the ultimate example of trusting and obeying. I think it is safe to say that because of his obedience, our obedience will never take on the same dimensions as his. And because of that obedience we can trust in this promise:
“…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV
Let us purpose that our obedience will be submission to God’s superior will knowing that it will be part of God’s ultimate plan for the good of His creation.
“When we cannot see our way Let us trust and still obey; He who bids us forward go Cannot fail the way to show.” Thomas Kelly SASB #689
Praying blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/chronicle/?category=Bible%20Study