The Check is in the Mail
The Check is in the Mail
Come on… look at those faces! Doesn’t look like these two would ever want to disobey. Right?
Believe it or not, cute, little, curly topped, 4 and 2-year-old version of myself and my brother Rob, had no trouble disobeying. This would usually be met with a stern conversation with my mom or dad about what it means to “obey” and that it was an expectation in my family to be obedient.
Obedience.
This word for me will always be connected with the parenting style of my wonderful parents, who did a great job despite the occasional “do as I say, not as I do.”
Recently, the word obedience has come to new meaning for me. Eugene Peterson paraphrased (he loves doing that) a well-known Nietzsche quote by saying:
“Discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction.”
It’s easy to moralize this concept into rights and wrongs and what it means to be a good person, but what happened yesterday gives me a whole new perspective.
My good friend and roommate, ChristianAnn, found out that she had a car repair bill that would be over $900 which is money she simply didn’t have. After various conversations, she took a risk and was obedient and trusted God.
“I think that God wants me to humble myself and ask for help,” she explained.
She crafted a short status for Facebook, sharing the news that she needed $900 for her car repair. Though it was hard to ask for help, she was willing to cook, clean, shop… do anything for people who would be willing to help her out. She then boldly wrote that she was going to see if God could meet this need in 24 hours.
This wasn’t the first time ChristianAnn had listened to God and obeyed. This was another step in her “long obedience in the same direction.”
In two hours she had half of the need covered and a few hours after that she was realizing that people had pledged to send her even more money than the car repair! On top of that, almost no one allowed her to work for the money, thus she humbly just had to receive.
There was something profound in the stories of each person giving:
A good friend works at a restaurant and out of obedience gives away all the tips she makes on Monday nights. This past Monday, there was a private party that tipped so well that it will cover half of the repair by that gift alone.
Within two hours of her post, our neighbors, The Premiums, pooled some cash and brought over $70 cash (and the DVD player they borrowed 🙂 ).
Over and over again the story seems similar:
“We just knew that we were supposed to give this Christmas bonus to you”
“God told us to look for a way to give more this season”
“I felt like I was supposed to give away $75 so a check is in the mail”
“I prayed for you tonight and God wants me to give you $65… and he also wants me to tell you these two words: EXPECT MORE”
Stories of obedience over and over and over again.
These stories don’t sound anything like my memories as little Steph trying to decide if I’ll be obedient and eat my brother’s cookie or not. Clearly a choice between “right and wrong.”
Obedience in the Bible is defined as steadfastness, faithfulness, and perseverance.
Obedience is redefined as my friend shows me what humility looks like.
Obedience is modeled by sacrifice but also joy as person after person gives without hesitation.
God calls us as disciples to a “long obedience in the same direction”.
Yes, this can mean that we don’t get to do what we really want to do. Or that we have to follow God even when it doesn’t feel joyful or easy.
But the direction we are heading is towards the Kingdom of God; following Jesus as our leader to a place where he is King.
A Kingdom of God economy where needs are met with generosity.
A Kingdom of God reality for our children where they don’t ever have to fear for their safety.
A Kingdom of God advent season where deep longings begin to be answered by the powerful presence of Emmanuel.
That’s the direction we’re heading.
It won’t be easy to keep in step with Jesus as the Kingdom breaks in around us, but the destination is worth the journey.
Decades later, this curly topped girl is still learning new lessons about obedience. It’s a good thing too, because the adult version of myself can’t get away with half as much as the 4-year-old Shirley Temple look-alike.
I know of many families and individuals in the city in need this Christmas. If God has given you a nudge to give more this season in any amount, email me at Stephanie@millcitychurch.com and I will be sure that the “Kingdom economy” is furthered by your gift.
The Check is in the Mail
Come on… look at those faces! Doesn’t look like these two would ever want to disobey. Right?
Believe it or not, cute, little, curly topped, 4 and 2-year-old version of myself and my brother Rob, had no trouble disobeying. This would usually be met with a stern conversation with my mom or dad about what it means to “obey” and that it was an expectation in my family to be obedient.
Obedience.
This word for me will always be connected with the parenting style of my wonderful parents, who did a great job despite the occasional “do as I say, not as I do.”
Recently, the word obedience has come to new meaning for me. Eugene Peterson paraphrased (he loves doing that) a well-known Nietzsche quote by saying:
“Discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction.”
It’s easy to moralize this concept into rights and wrongs and what it means to be a good person, but what happened yesterday gives me a whole new perspective.
My good friend and roommate, ChristianAnn, found out that she had a car repair bill that would be over $900 which is money she simply didn’t have. After various conversations, she took a risk and was obedient and trusted God.
“I think that God wants me to humble myself and ask for help,” she explained.
She crafted a short status for Facebook, sharing the news that she needed $900 for her car repair. Though it was hard to ask for help, she was willing to cook, clean, shop… do anything for people who would be willing to help her out. She then boldly wrote that she was going to see if God could meet this need in 24 hours.
This wasn’t the first time ChristianAnn had listened to God and obeyed. This was another step in her “long obedience in the same direction.”
In two hours she had half of the need covered and a few hours after that she was realizing that people had pledged to send her even more money than the car repair! On top of that, almost no one allowed her to work for the money, thus she humbly just had to receive.
There was something profound in the stories of each person giving:
A good friend works at a restaurant and out of obedience gives away all the tips she makes on Monday nights. This past Monday, there was a private party that tipped so well that it will cover half of the repair by that gift alone.
Within two hours of her post, our neighbors, The Premiums, pooled some cash and brought over $70 cash (and the DVD player they borrowed 🙂 ).
Over and over again the story seems similar:
“We just knew that we were supposed to give this Christmas bonus to you”
“God told us to look for a way to give more this season”
“I felt like I was supposed to give away $75 so a check is in the mail”
“I prayed for you tonight and God wants me to give you $65… and he also wants me to tell you these two words: EXPECT MORE”
Stories of obedience over and over and over again.
These stories don’t sound anything like my memories as little Steph trying to decide if I’ll be obedient and eat my brother’s cookie or not. Clearly a choice between “right and wrong.”
Obedience in the Bible is defined as steadfastness, faithfulness, and perseverance. Obedience is redefined as my friend shows me what humility looks like. Obedience is modeled by sacrifice but also joy as person after person gives without hesitation.God calls us as disciples to a “long obedience in the same direction”.
Yes, this can mean that we don’t get to do what we really want to do. Or that we have to follow God even when it doesn’t feel joyful or easy.
But the direction we are heading is towards the Kingdom of God; following Jesus as our leader to a place where he is King.
A Kingdom of God economy where needs are met with generosity. A Kingdom of God reality for our children where they don’t ever have to fear for their safety. A Kingdom of God advent season where deep longings begin to be answered by the powerful presence of Emmanuel.That’s the direction we’re heading.
It won’t be easy to keep in step with Jesus as the Kingdom breaks in around us, but the destination is worth the journey.
Decades later, this curly topped girl is still learning new lessons about obedience. It’s a good thing too, because the adult version of myself can’t get away with half as much as the 4-year-old Shirley Temple look-alike.
I know of many families and individuals in the city in need this Christmas. If God has given you a nudge to give more this season in any amount, email me at Stephanie@millcitychurch.com and I will be sure that the “Kingdom economy” is furthered by your gift.