In his book, The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges writes,
“God wants us to walk in obedience—not victory. Obedience is oriented toward God; victory is oriented toward self. This may seem to be merely splitting hairs over semantics, but there is a subtle, self-centered attitude at the root of many of our difficulties with sin.”[1]
While contextually Bridges penned about holiness, the principle of obedience is what prompted my writing today. As I scribbled in my journal this morning, with a sinus headache and no unction to do anything, I wrote, “One thing I was reminded this week was to write when the unction hits and not put it off to later, even if it seems to be out of my preconceived sequence.”
Throughout the week, a couple of thoughts had been dropped in my spirit, which were then personally acknowledged with “I need to write that down,’ but never acted upon. My rationalization: I will do it later.
But later never came. All I needed to do was write it down and save the thought, even if was incomplete. Just write the “seed” and let it germinate. After all, isn’t that’s what the control-S keys are for—to save not just for now, but also later!?!
Early on in answering the ministry call, I had read in First Samuel the need to be diligent with the Word and wanted to live that out as best as possible, “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground” (3:19 KJV).
Most commentators will say that passage really dealt with the Lord confirming Samuel’s words as a prophet since Samuel would be speaking God’s word under the Old Covenant. But for me, it was to do my best in not letting any of God’s words fall to the ground so I could share His Word under the New Covenant with New Testament affirmation.
Regrettably, in the quiet of old-age reflection, I am afraid to have left too much to later that was ultimately lost in the fog of life and my procrastination therein. I had leaned heavily upon the “Holy Spirit bringing things back to my memory,” a personal extrapolation of Luke 12:12, which, much to my chagrin, may be an interpretation that is a bit extreme.
Hence, the foresight of my New Year resolution: Do it now, or, at least, as quickly as I can. Now, three weeks in and I had already faltered in practicing my declaration.
So, this is a redeeming post in hopes to cultivate my resolution and pluck the weeds away from the tender plant of timely obedience of “now or at least as quickly as possible.”
I do foresee it helping; and not is all lost in my resolution. Admittedly redeeming though maybe not God-breathed, the trash has been taken out perfectly since January 1!
