Behind my house there is a paved alley for walking, which is part of the city’s park system.  It also has speed humps for vehicles that are looking for a shortcut.  We usually walk our dogs at the park, but, on occasion I will walk them in the alley if the weather is bad or we’re on a tight schedule.

I was noticing the other day the number of No Trespassing signs affixed to several of the houses where we walk.  And as I thought about it, I had to chuckle because the thing that struck me first was, if there was no sign, does it mean that it’s okay just to walk right into their homes?  Of course not.  So what’s the purpose of the signs?  I understand Beware of Dog signs or No Trespassing signs at the edge of large property, but posted on houses that are probably no more than fifteen feet apart?

I suppose the sign means, Don’t come in my house without permission, AND I REALLY MEAN IT. Whatever happened to neighborly love?  The funny thing is that there are Welcome mats on most of their front porch entrances.  Society has become increasingly private, keeping those around them at arm’s length. My guess is that the No Trespassing issue goes a bit deeper.

At the Methodist church where we attend it is common to be asked to recite the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) during the service.  We use the Anglican version, and one phrase of note occurs a little over half-way through the prayer and says, “… forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  Other versions use “forgive us our debts” or “forgive us our sins.”

But I like “trespass” because it brings forth the idea of crossing a line.  As we trudge  (or skip, or jog, or run) on this road toward eternity, God has placed shoulders on each side, with warning tracks cut into them, so that we are aware when we are about to drift past his commands into areas of danger.  Of course there are convenient exits along the way, also leading to trouble, in order to allow us to willingly obey and stay on the narrow road.

And like the NO TRESPASSING signs in my alley, we erect such signs in our hearts.  We communicate to others by words, looks or body language that they can only go so far with regard to our private lives. Cross over that line, and there’s no telling what we might say or do.

I think God wants us to remove those signs.  Jesus clearly showed how we are to handle those who compel us (Matthew 5:38-42).  We should respond openly, fairly and honestly for two reasons:  First, God wants us to; it’s called obeying.  Secondly, it teaches us how to love. Jesus goes on to say that we have a tendency to only love those who love us.  What’s the benefit in that?  We should work on showing love to the seemingly unlovable, while still promoting the “comfortable” love.

Trespassing is the tension that helps us grow.  We’re either doing it, or having it done to us. The challenge is how to get back on the narrow road and how to love those who invade our space.  God’s forgiveness is readily available, and his help is at the tip of our tongue in prayer.  All because his love is abundant.

I believe that God or Jesus has a right to my absolute obedience whenever I know or shall come to know his will; that to obey him is to ascend to the highest point of my being; that not to obey him would be to deny him.

Is obedience ever bad?  Slaves are forced to obey, and employees are paid to obey. What would happen to such obedience if the conditions were removed?  Is complete freedom from obedience really what we want?  The world is divided into leaders and followers, with an apathetic portion of some people in between.

All can’t be leaders, and where would we be if there was no one to follow?  It seems to me that God has designed us to enjoy (or not) human interaction.  Children and soldiers obviously need firm direction. But what about the rest of us?  And what about our obedience to God?

God gave us ten commandments; they’re listed in the Bible (Exodus 20).  It’s a very concise list that helps us to address our relationship with God, our family and our neighbors.  From this list all laws are formed.

Jesus gave us one commandment:  LOVE.  It encompasses all of the ten from the Old Testament.  He has the authority to sum them up in this one commandment because he is God’s son.  He goes on to explain who we are to love:  God and everybody;  when we are to love:  all the time; and how we are to love: with all our heart.  That’s a tall order, which brings us back to obedience.

God knows that he can force obedience, but that doesn’t complete his love.  Voluntary obedience doesn’t even get it.  Only obedience out of love will bring true peace and happiness.

Obedience to earthly masters must be weighed against God’s standards.  Obedience to God doesn’t need to be challenged because he is perfect, and his commands will be true.  They are given so that we may become perfect in love.

But be careful.  If the voice in your head directs you to act contrary to the ten commandments or out of envy, hate or pride, then God has NOT spoken.

Jesus taught that we are to follow his commandments because, in so doing, we would be following his Father, and ours.  The Holy Spirit is given that we might be reminded daily the way in which we should walk.  Through the Spirit’s work, we are chastised, when needed, as well as encouraged and comforted.

But which comes first — obedience or love?  If we can truly love, then obedience is experienced without even thinking about it.  But not many of us can truly love.  Therefore, obedience, for the sake of obedience, is the way in which we learn to love.  Obedience without reservation.  Obedience without resentment.  Obedience that rests in the trust that we have of our heavenly Father.

For him to truly be in us, we must trust and obey.  There’s no other way.

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Mark 13:10

I often forget this important command of Jesus.  I used to believe that preaching the gospel meant telling everyone I came into contact with (who wasn’t already a Christian) that Jesus came to die for their sins and that they must accept him as their Savior or risk an eternity in Hell.

Gospel means “good news,” and nothing about burning in Hell can be good. So what else could good news mean?  What did it mean to the people that Jesus brought it to?

It would be good news to people who thought that their God had forgotten them, to find out that he loves them — always has and always will.  It’s good news for them to know that their religious leaders are not necessarily God’s pristine examples of how one should behave who claims God. And it’s good news to know that, even though we fail (sin), God is not going to give up on us. He will use discipline, just as any loving parent would do to teach their children well.

Hey, that good news (gospel) still fits for me today!

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Many people find that doing things for those who ask is easier than following orders.  There’s something about the fact that when a person commands something (rather than suggesting), it makes them look superior.  But isn’t society always required to have leaders and followers?  Or could we ever realize a Utopian world, where imperative instruction is not necessary?

What about our relationship to God?  It seems that the only way we can really get to know Him is to obey. What does He ask of us?  Well, the ten commandments come to mind.  But they’re so negative — THOU SHALT NOT.  What does he ask us to do that’s positive?  Does he communicate to us outside of the Bible?

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, who would teach and convict us.  (John 14:26)  So, is that voice in your head the Holy Spirit, or is it just your conscience?  Or are they one and the same?  Do you ever get to think for yourself?  It’s obvious that you have the responsibility to act, no matter who is suggesting, encouraging or commanding.  Do we need to be absolutely sure of the truth before we follow?

It would be great to know what we ought to do, or ought not to do.  But I think what gets us into trouble is when we determine what others ought to do, or not do, and forcefully exhort them in that manner.  Both testaments of the Bible speak freely of righteousness, the act of doing right in the eyes of God.  Can we ever really know what is right?  Many Christian advisors say, “When in doubt, leave it out.”  Is that good advice?

So which is better?  To be the master or the servant?  Jesus, who is the Master, said it is better to be the servant.  The Apostle said, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”  (2 Corinthians 12:10)  Will that work in today’s world?

Sometimes I wish that I could order my spiritual life as I order my daily physical life.  I’m quite orderly — almost to a fault.  I make notes, lots of notes.  Reminders, thoughts for future blogs, my own calendar and to-do list on a computer spreadsheet.  I keep my desk orderly.  I put my shoes and clothes away (that’s my wife’s fault — she trained me).  I schedule everything.  I was an attentive enlisted man in the Air Force, and the pattern continued when I got out.  Give me a drill sergeant, and I’m quite content.

Then at other times I wish that I was more carefree.  Stopping to smell the flowers or find interesting shapes in the clouds at the risk of missing the next appointment.  Of course I could schedule those things, but where’s the fun in that?  But on to my spiritual life.

On my list of things not to do I don’t want to be mean, pretending, false, unfair, self-pitying, cowardly, fearful or anxious.  I also want to avoid self-love or possessiveness.  That’s a tall order.  I wonder if I wrote those things down and reviewed them each day, perhaps I could measure my progress, maybe even make a chart.  Even as I write this for fun, I’m seriously playing the idea in my mind as a possibility.  Somebody, please stop me!

How much does God really intervene in our lives?  Is it my conscience telling what to do, or not do, or is the Holy Spirit tapping into my brain waves?  How can I be sure that it’s not just me rationalizing in order to satisfy my selfish desires?

Even lists can be constructed toward my wants rather than needs or duties.  Sometimes I just want to throw out those stupid lists and let my thoughts run free, meeting each challenge as I round the next curve.

But then I would forget to check my blood sugar, take my pills and … what was the other thing?  I’ll have to check my list.

Punishment is the bad thing that happens when you do wrong.  It can come by the hand of fellow humans or by the hand of God.  It can also be self-inflicted.  No matter how it comes, it hurts.  The hurt can often bring resentment or revenge.  But can punishment ever be good?

Our justice system is designed to make punishment a deterrent — that is, if you’re punished for a crime, then you are less likely to do it again.  Unfortunately, most criminals in our jails are repeat offenders.  And this doesn’t even count for the number of crimes they got away with.  So the punishment merely takes them out of society for awhile until they have served their time or until they convince parole boards to release them early.

Before I go any further, let me say that I am not aware of anything that I have done that should put me in prison.  So why should I be punished?  Because I believe that God’s punishment is just and is used by him to discipline us.  It certainly can include punishment by others, but God is the Master Planner.

It is natural for a person to not want to do wrong in order to avoid punishment, especially if he or she has felt the sting of punishment.  But God doesn’t want that for us.  He punishes us to get our attention. It is his desire for us to be able to recognize where we have gone wrong, so that we may set it right. And not only are we to set it right, we must condition ourselves to not repeat it — not so as to avoid punishment, but to consciously want to do the right thing — because we are his children and want to be like him.

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To be happy in Jesus — is to trust and obey.

I believe that Jesus called everyone to follow him.  And in following him they must obey him.  He is not seeking worship of himself, though his worth-ship is apparent; he was re-connecting the created to their Creator.  He obeys the Father; we obey the Son.

Don’t misunderstand.  This is not a matrix organization where God is the boss of Jesus, and Jesus is the boss of us.  Jesus is the image of the Father, and we are to imitate Christ.  If we are to truly know Christ, then we must be in his will.  And to be in his will we must obey his teachings.

Where do we find his teachings?  Many are recorded in the gospels of the New Testament.  They are life lessons found in sermons, parables and responses in a real world setting.  Further teaching (or reinforcing of his Biblical words) can be received through the leading of the Holy Spirit, the unseen voice of God, who whispers in our ear to encourage, warn and correct.

Obedience is the foundation of our Christian walk.  It’s a process that will take many successes and failures until we reach an absolute state of oneness with him.  Eternity makes up this life and the next; the journey doesn’t end here.

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My conviction is, that, near or far off, in ourselves, or in our ancestors — say Adam and Eve, for comprehension’s sake — all our ailments have a moral cause. I think that if we were all good, disease would, in the course of generations, disappear utterly from the face of the earth.

What a remarkable concept! I had read this story several times and obviously overlooked this gem. All of Christianity is pretty much in agreement that disease and death were a result of the “fall” in the Garden of Eden. But what if Adam and Eve weren’t kicked out of the garden because they had sinned, but rather because they continued to sin? And this started the pattern of sinning that they passed on to future generations.

Disease, then, is directly connected to practiced sin — whether outward or hidden. Does that mean that a person’s sickness is an indicator of personal sin? The greater the sickness, the more sin present?

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If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 14:23

What a wonderful teaching! What an amazing arrangement! We simply do what he tells us, and we have complete fellowship with the God of the universe. The teacher is Jesus. His teacher is God. We are the student-children that he has created.

As I see it, there are at least two areas of teaching that we should address. One is the instruction that we receive from the Bible. While the teachings of Christ in the Gospels are of primary importance, we must also glean spiritual truths from both the Old Testament writings, as well as the New Testament letters. Even though much of scripture is clouded by human manipulation, we can still dig out gems of truth from the human experience.

Secondly, we must listen to the voice within us — and follow. God begins with the simple instructions, like “sweep the floor” or “give a hug.” As we become more comfortable with these brief commands, he adds greater truths and broader revelations. Jesus said, “To him who has, will be given more.”

As easy as it sounds, it is certainly not free from obstacles. Like our pride. Or our enemy, the Devil. We may often be swallowed up in confusion, rather than having clear direction. When this comes, and it will, we must do as Peter did, who wanted to walk on water, but began to sink. We must not take our eyes off of Jesus. Instead, we should reach out, and take his hand.

Listen to his voice. Do what he says. Experience the joy of obedience. Only then can we be at home with the Father.

God gave ten to Moses.  Jesus told a lawyer that there were two.  So who’s right?  And why do we have to follow any of them anyway since we’re born again believers in Christ?   Even the word “command” is an imperative.  It says forcefully, “You have to do it (or not do it) — OR ELSE!  In our modern-day, sensitivity-focused society, commands are still often required to get the job done, be it the military or the workplace.

Aside from our daily dose of functional commands, God’s commands are centered on our relationships.  Jesus takes God’s ten and sums them up into two categories:  Love God; and love your neighbor

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