obedience

obedience is the splint which God places on the broken life, that it might mend.

a few weeks ago during our church service, dr. jerry root shared his thoughts on obedience.  and this quote just struck me.  and it stuck with me.  i have been meditating on this pretty hard.

it is easy to think of obedience as a bummer.  as something we have to do.  as something that the good people do.  as something that i am not good at.  as something i fight.  but, no.  obedience is healing.

this word comes from ortho.  as in, orthopedic or orthodoxy.  just like orthopedic doctors will realign or make straight, God provides instruction that we might obey.  this obedience helps to ortho us.  it makes us straight.  upright.  that we may stand up straight before God.

i don't know about you, but my spiritual spine can get twisted from time to time.  i can develop a bit of a hunchback.  i can buckle under the weight of the load that i try to shoulder on my own.  but, no.  Christ says, "take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for i am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (matthew 11:29-30).  he wants to come alongside us and shoulder the load.  to teach us the correct way.  to instruct us.  to strengthen us.  to help us to stand up straight.

Lord, may i be obedient.  may my life be upright.