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Written by Michelle J. Goff, Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
Obedience is a bending of our own will to the will of another, usually someone in authority. No one can serve two masters. We apply this truth to God and money, but it applies to God and any facet of “self” that has not surrendered to Him.
The Spirit gave me the word “obedience” when I first felt that it was the right time to write One Single Reason: Conversations with Single Women. Over the course of the project, I came to discover a renewed and heightened understanding of that word. God ushered me into an affirmation of His faithfulness that could only be tasted through my obedience.
At times, the obedience provided comfort. I was simply doing what God had asked me to do. At other moments, the obedience provided clarity. God had not called me to please the myriad of groups who wanted me to be their poster child for their cause through this book. Sometimes, the obedience implied discomfort and sacrifice. What God had asked me to do was not easy. Finally, the obedience implied rest and trust. When I trusted God and His guidance through the process, I could rest in the truth that He would do His part if I obediently did mine.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him and He will direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).
Obedience is monumentally more difficult without trust—quite nearly impossible.
Obedience through the pain means that I trust that the pain will be worthwhile and that it is only temporary, not eternal.
Obedience over time means that it is not conditional on when I feel like being obedient.
Obedience is a decision, a commitment, a fulfilled promise.
My obedience required relentless perseverance, continual submission, and complete trust.
What I didn’t know when I first answered God’s call to be obedient in the writing of this book is what other areas of obedience were included in this package deal…
Obedience to writing One Single Reason meant that I had to be obedient in a painful healing process—not just about being single.
Obedience to hearing and sharing more of the stories of other women meant that I had to be obedient and faithful to their voices.
Obedience to researching God’s Word and His will as it related to the topic of singleness meant that I had to be obedient to challenge whatever I did or didn’t think previously—to represent His voice accurately and respectfully.
Obedience may not be easy, but it is most definitely worthwhile. When it is modeled and practiced, we begin to realize all the facets of what God has designed and desired for His disciples.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20)
All authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Jesus... And a significant part of His final charge to the disciples was to obey what He had commanded, to teach others how to obey what He had commanded.
Obedience to God also comes with the promise that He is will us always, to the very end of the age. Obedience facilitates greater intimacy of relationship with God. It may isolate us from some of the other relationships in our lives, but we are given that choice.
God invites us to choose obedience. It is not a demand that we robotically follow His arbitrary commands. Rather, it is an opportunity to the abundant life, promised to those who choose to follow, to surrender their own will, to trust in our Creator and Heavenly Father who knows our needs and loves us unconditionally.
My own story of obedience is also riddled with moments of disobedience. I do not share my story of obedience as a perfect model. God redeemed my moments of distrust and doubt, and ushered me into a renewed commitment to obedience.
The fruit of that obedience has been the blessing of encouraging, equipping, and empowering single and single-again women through One Single Reason: Conversations with Single Women. When we are obedient, we can be a catalyst for others’ obedience, as well.
Thank you for partnering with us on our obedience journey! If there is a specific way in which we can pray with you on your own obedience journey, please let us know! Finally, we would love to hear some of what obedience means to you. Is there a part of your obedience story you would be willing to share?
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Written by Abby Baumgartner, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Lifting my head out of the water, I breathe and open my eyes just in time to hear the questioning cries from the shoreline: “Master Naaman! Are you healed?”
I look down at my arm and see that, for the sixth time now, I’ve gotten my hopes up; the pale, pink spots of leprosy still cover my arm. I turn towards shore, shaking my head as choruses of “That’s ok,” “That was only six. You’re supposed to dip seven times,” and “Seventh time is the charm!” drift back to me from the shore.
But this is ridiculous.
How did I—the commanding general of the Syrian army—end up washing myself in the Jordan river with an audience on the shoreline? Good question.
It all started when I discovered spots of leprosy on my arm. With no cure, this disease decays the skin and is a horrifying death sentence. I immediately began searching for some way to be healed, and no idea was too crazy to try. My wife’s servant, an Israelite girl my army captured in a raid, spoke of a prophet in Israel who could heal leprosy. I decided to seek healing from this prophet, after all, what did I stand to lose?
Armed with a letter of recommendation from the King of Syria and gifts of silver, gold, and fine clothing, I went to Israel and met with the king. I read him the letter and offered the gifts, but instead of answering me, the king declared he could not help me. We were at a standstill, and I started to think I’d wasted my time, until a messenger came before the king saying, “I carry with me a message from Elisha the prophet “Let him come now to me that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel” (2 Kings 5:8, ESV).
So, I packed up again and traveled to meet Elisha, but when I arrived at the prophet’s house, he wouldn’t even come to meet me. Instead, he sent another messenger to say, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean” (2 Kings 5:10b).
Humiliated and with burning rage, I said, “Behold, I thought he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord, his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Demascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” (2 Kings 5:11b-12a).
Having said my piece, I turned to go, but one of my servants said, “Do not be angry, but,
My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” (2 Kings 5:13b, NIV).
I turned and looked back at my servants and the messenger. That same servant spoke again saying, “He’s not asking you do accomplish some super-human feat; he’s just asking you to wash.”
“But it makes no sense!” I replied, “Why—”
“Why not! We’ve all heard of the power of the Israelite God and the miracles worked by His prophets—this may still be your best chance,” he said. “And even if it doesn’t work, the only negative is that you’ll get a little wet.”
So, now I stand here in the Jordan River. I’ve dipped six times with no change in my skin, and I feel like a fool. Just one more time, I tell myself. As I sink into the Jordan a seventh time, a momentary wave of peace washes over me, then all too quickly, I rise from the water again. Before I even open my eyes, I hear calls from the shore, “Master Naaman! Are you healed?”
Fearing the worst, I look down at my arms. My skin is clear again! I jump back to the shore shouting, “The leprosy is gone! It’s all gone! Praise the Lord, God of Israel!”
I run to Elisha’s house, and this time he comes to meet me. With a knowing grin, he asks, “Naaman, have you washed in the Jordan seven times?”
“Yes!” I reply, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant” and I offer him the gifts of gold, silver, and clothes (2 Kings 5:15b, ESV).
Elisha says, “No. As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none” (2 Kings 5:16).
Now I understand. My healing wasn’t something I could manhandle through feats of strength or buy with gold; in fact, I could not earn my healing at all. Nothing I could do would measure up. Washing in the Jordan was so simple, and yet it brought a healing that I couldn’t gain in any other way.
It was ridiculous. It made no sense to me, but maybe that’s part of the point, too. I have to trust that the Lord is greater and stronger than I am, and I have to obey His call, even if it doesn’t make a lot of sense in the moment. Healing only came when I surrendered, let go of my pride, and obeyed.
“Thank you, Elisha. I understand now that I cannot repay you, so I will instead ask one more thing. [P]lease let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth,” I say (2 Kings 5:17). “Because from now on, I will only worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord, God of Israel. And I ask that even when I have to enter the temples of false gods with my king, that the Lord will forgive me.”
“Go in peace,” Elisha tells me, and I do (2 Kings 5:19).
What seemingly ridiculous thing is God calling you to obey?