Pastor Mike said this sentence this weekend and I was so convicted.

“God will always do more with our obedience than we think we can do with our compromise.”

It is simply put but profound. It is so easy to think that I am getting something done my way, without really considering that it is in fact, compromise. I don’t know how many times I’ve talked myself in to postponing my quiet time to get other things done, and then suffered for it. I compromised my time and didn’t come out winning in the end. If I had just been obedient, He would have used that.

When Pastor Mike said this I thought of the quote, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” There is no way getting around the fact that God requires our obedience. Anything less is not satisfactory to Him. Too often we think of God as a doting Grandfather who lovingly winks at our laziness and shrugs at our sin. The book of 1 John shows us that God is not like that. (1 John 2:3-5)

After hearing this sermon my heart was heavy because I kept thinking of areas where I compromise. What was discouraging is that they seem so subtle.  In each situation I knew that everything wasn’t right but my conclusion was simply that I needed to work on it, I’m not perfect.  I hadn’t really seen it as compromise, disobedience. I’m glad that the Holy Spirit works to convict us and also enables us to grow. This morning I was so encouraged to read the words of David in Psalm 119:59-60

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes, O Lord. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

This is an awesome prayer and also the encouragement I needed to get working at immediate obedience.

[1] This week things slowed down a little for me. Friday was our 5 year anniversary and it was nice to go out for a long dinner together. All this week, Bobby is down in Mexico with a group of our high school students. They are staying at an orphanage down there and working to proclaim the gospel with the children and families in the area. Poor Tyler misses Bobby so badly. He keeps looking around the house calling his name and even standing at the window saying, “Hi, Da Da!” and then he says, “Da Da all gone?” We will both be glad to have him home Saturday!

Sunday afternoon I drove up the coast to visit my parents, brother and sisters. I hadn’t gone up in awhile so it was good to see them and I think they liked chasing Tyler around. For the 4th of July my sister and her family came down and we joined our church for a BBQ lunch, went swimming in the afternoon and saw fireworks together. To see pictures from our summer so far, click [2] here!