This is quite possibly one of the more difficult blogs we’ve written; certainly the most personal. Let me preface by encouraging you to read Part 1 and join us back here afterwards.
In the same study I mentioned last week, It’s Time, by author Crystal Ratcliff, the Lord reminded my heart of the ripple effect of sin in ministry. My husband and I have spoken about this at length over the years. I want to share with you what is quite possibly the biggest lesson we’ve taken away from over two decades of ministry: “Partial, delayed, or hesitant obedience is STILL DISOBEDIENCE.” And trust me, I am painfully aware of how that stings.
Sadly, we have experienced the ripple effect of delayed obedience. If you’ve been serving the Lord for any length of time, you can probably relate. I often compare our journey in ministry to that of Jonah. It pains us to think about how God could have used us earlier in our marriage. As I mentioned in that previous post, while we were saved, we were not submitted. Therefore, the enemy had a foothold. We were sitting on the proverbial “sidelines”, allowing the enemy to occupy our time, and I have to wonder who else was impacted. To understand the importance of obedience, we must look at it through the lens of Scripture. John 14:15 convicts me every time I read it, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” and John 15:14 rejoices my heart to know, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” Beloved, what’s holding you back today?
I know exactly what held me back: doubt. Time and again, my disobedience in ministry, even my reluctancy to begin blogging, was a direct result of that doubt. This manifested in me shrinking back and not fully stepping into God’s will for me. I was obeying with hesitation. I didn’t believe He could use me that way. Whatever way that was. You might be wondering why that was disobedient when I was still serving. It was a blatant lack of faith. And it is impossible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6) Tears just welled up in my eyes … that truth burns so deeply. You see, God was never asking me to do anything in my own power. He was asking me to trust HIM to do something in and through me. It’s why I often pray, the words of Luke 9:24, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” I don’t know about you, but I need the reminder that God is “ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (Ephesians 3:20, emphasis added). Furthermore, those were lies I never had to own! For clarity, it was no one’s fault but mine; I didn’t obey. I gave those lies power by believing them instead of God. If this is where you’re at, the solution is found in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Neither my thoughts nor I were in obedience in those moments. I would never want to discourage what God is doing in another life, causing a ripple effect of sin that spans into eternity, so in case no one has ever told you: Step into your calling. Trust Him. He is able.
When we obey with hesitation, we often find ourselves caught up in partial obedience. Both of us have experienced this firsthand, as church members and co-laborers. A leaders resistance during a time of disobedience affects those around him/her, and it can stifle servanthood and collapse ministries altogether. As leaders, we’ve seen how partial obedience results in missed opportunities, burnout, and breeds complacency within the church. Our half-hearted efforts have no place in ministry, my friend. Aren’t you grateful that Christ didn’t follow His calling halfway? Instead, He considered it a joy, “…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross …” (Hebrews 12:2).
That verse begins like this, “Looking unto Jesus…” We each have our struggles—whether we’re hesitating, filled with doubt, or convincing ourselves that our partial obedience is sufficient. Joyful obedience occurs when we repent and refocus our gaze on Jesus. Might we choose to do so today, and regain the zeal to be steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding!
