Thorough Obedience

Leave it to God, to deposit a nugget of a perspective buried in the book of Numbers!

So, I'm reading chapter 33 and we arrive at the part where God is giving Israel instructions regarding entering the Promised Land and basically take it over and kick everyone out. And then He tells them, whatever you leave behind will be a prick to you... literally, a pain in your life. A "source of trouble". Then God promises to deal with Israel, as He plans to deal with the inhabitants of Canaan.

You've heard of the term, and the book for that matter, Immediate Obedience?

This passage had me asking... is this a great example of Thorough Obedience?

I struggle with immediate obedience. I'm the last person that should discuss this topic at a level of thoroughness. Procrastination is may daily adversary. So, I pondered this with an element of conviction.

And along with that, are the words of a concept that perhaps I've known existed by didn't considered worded as such.

"Ministry is a great place to hide."

I touched on it yesterday, but it is true. We don't often think of calling out pastors and church leadership to guard against danger and ensure their straight and narrow journey. There's an invisible barrier, that while we connect with them during the message on Sunday, we don't necessarily connect with their mess the rest of the week. As they minister, it's almost as though it is one-sided.

So, where do pastors go when they need ministry? Because ministry is, in fact, NOT meant to be a hideout.

Yes, they are doing good work; but the potential for things to fall through and become points of danger are just as real and just as possible as it is for us; when we are neither thorough in our faith and more importantly, in our obedience.

On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray for a thorough obedience. Pray that they would be careful to listen closely to the specific directions and instructions that God may be speaking into their lives and ministries. May God help them guard against points of entry that would cause them to stumble, to miss the mark and not fully accomplished what God has called, ordained and prepared them to do and go. Pray that ministry would not be a place to hide, but to lead; to encourage others to follow them as they follow Christ.

Genuine in faith.
Real in life.
Accountable in truth.
For the glory of God.

- PNC