A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction 

This is a phrase I heard a number of years ago that has stuck with me and that serves as a good reminder of our calling as followers of Jesus and as His church. 

As individuals and as a church we should desire to accomplish great things for Christ. We should desire to have lives that please Him. And we should hope to make an impact for Him in the place we live and beyond. 

But what does it look like to have life that is pleasing to Him and to leave a lasting impact? There may be times in each of our lives when we have the opportunity to do one thing or make one decision that will bring incredible results for the work of God in the world. But the truth is that most of life is lived in the day-to-day, week-to-week cycle of life. It's lived in the ordinary. 

Much of what it means to make an impact for Christ is accomplished in being faithful to His calling day in and day out. Week in and week out. It's learning to be obedient, each day. It's learning to take advantage of the opportunities that we are given, each week. This is true for us as individuals and for us as a church. 

So, the question is, are we being faithful today? 

  • If we want our kids to love and follow Christ, how are we pointing them toward Him today?
  • If we want to have long-term victory over sin, it starts with obedience today. And then tomorrow. 
  • If we want to know His Word better, what are we doing today to help us grow? 
  • If we want to reach others for Christ, what conversations are we having and what bridges are we building today? 
  • If we want to be a church that has a significant impact in our city, what are we doing this week to be obedient to our calling? 
  • If we want to grow in Christian community, how are we cultivating that this week? 

These are just a few examples. We should strive to be obedient today. And then tomorrow. This week, and then next. And if we keep our eyes on Christ, and keep living as He has called, these days and weeks will add up to a lifetime of faithfulness. And a lifetime of faithfulness is a lifetime that will leave a lasting impact. 
 

May this be our prayer for ourselves and for our church:
That we would be known for our long obedience in the same direction. 

by: Matthew Breeden | Categories: General

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