Obey - I

Take the “Who Am I?” quiz

 

 MEMORY VERSE

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23)

REFLECTION

 Based on these brief descriptions, see how many of these amazing followers of Christ you can identify:

Answers: a. Dietrich Bonhoeffer    b. Blaise Pascal  c. Thomas à Kempis   d. Richard Foster   e. Elisabeth Elliot  f. Soren Kierkegaard

____ I was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and philosopher. When I was 18 I invented the mechanical calculator. I devoted much of my life to the study of theology.

____My spouse was killed in 1956 in Ecuador while trying to make missionary contact with the Waodani (Auca) Indians. I went back with my 3 year old daughter and spent two years as a missionary to the tribe members who killed my spouse. Over the years God has brought many of them to salvation.

____I was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian. I learned about God’s heart for justice from the African American church in Harlem, New York. My convictions led me to participate in plans to assassinate Adolf Hitler. I wrote the book The Cost of Discipleship.  I was arrested by the Gestapo and executed by hanging in 1945.

____I was a Danish philosopher, theologian and religious author. Some have called me the “most profound thinker of the 19^th century.”  The purpose of my writing was to encourage people to renew their faith in Christ and show that the Bible is relevant to all areas of life.

____I am the author of the book Celebration of Discipline which has been called one of the top 10 books of the 20^th century. The goal of my life is to call people to utter dependence upon Jesus Christ as everliving Savior, Teacher, Lord, and Friend.

____I was a monk in the 14^th century and hand copied the Bible at least four times.  I wrote a book called The Imitation of Christ which is a simple devotional on loving God and it became the most translated book in Christian literature.

What lessons on obedience speak to you from the words of these Christ followers?  

In the spiritual life only one thing produces genuine joy and that is obedience. --Richard Foster

Holiness has never been the driving force of the majority. It is, however, mandatory for anyone who wants to enter the kingdom. --Elisabeth Elliot

Let this be thy whole endeavor, this thy prayer, this thy desire,--that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness, and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only. --Thomas à Kempis

The strength of a man's virtue should not be measured by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts.--Blaise Pascal

..Christ did not appoint professors, but followers. If Christianity ... is not reduplicated in the life of the person expounding it, then he does not expound Christianity, for Christianity is a message about living and can only be expounded by being realized in men's lives. --Soren Kierkegaard

Sometimes we don't need another chance to express how we feel or to ask someone to understand our situation. Sometimes we just need a firm kick in the pants. An unsmiling expectation that if we mean all these wonderful things we talk about and sing about, then let’s see something to prove it. --Dietrich Bonhoeffer

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Which is your favorite quote? Why do you think these Christ followers were able to struggle for the justice for the oppressed, take the gospel to dangerous places and create great inventions? John 14:23 says God will come and make His home with us.   How do you think your life will be different as you grow in your desire and commitment to obey all of Christ’s commands?

ACTION STEPS FOR THE WEEK

Try to summarize your thoughts on obedience in one or two sentences. If you’d like, post it on this blog so that others can be challenged and encouraged. Start a list of Jesus commands that you struggle to, yet desire to, obey.