Obedience

Some words in the Bible are not very appealing to me. I know I am shaped from growing up in a democratic, socialistic society and certain words make me react in a negative way, words like submission or obedience for example. But because I know that God is good and perfect and all loving I need to face these words and try to figure out what HE means by them and what they look like through His eyes. I can be sure that I have a misunderstanding of them because they make me sort of upset and what God gives always brings joy and peace etc. That doesn't mean that we never need to struggle with His word but by the fruit we will know if we misunderstood it or not...

As I was pondering on what it looks like to do His will, I read Psalms 40:7-8 in the Message-translation and all of a sudden it made so much sense:

So I answered, "I'm coming.
I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I'm coming to the party
you're throwing for me."
That's when God's Word entered my life,
became part of my very being.

That is what obedience looks like: to come to the party God is throwing for me! To let Him love on me and celebrate me. To not be so stubborn and shut Him out and cover myself in shame or despise (which can be sort of comfortable from time to time) but humble myself and open up to His love - that is obedience! (1 John 4:10)