April Showers, May Flowers drown

It is raining, a lot. I love the rain, I really do. I love it when it is cold outside and there is rain falling from the sky. I love the darkness that rain clouds bring. There is something very soothing about the rain. I wish it would rain more often.

It didn't rain a lot for Elijah. I have found recently that one of the greatest joys of the Christian experience is being a part of the story. I am a character in the grand narrative of God. I have a role to play, a part to perform, and this is excellent. I have purpose. But, I am expendable. God can use many other extras and understudies to fill my role. I matter, but I don't. In this line of thinking I am reminded of the prophet Elijah. Now there is someone who knew the Scriptures and the power of God. Elijah called fire from heaven down to consume a soaked and drenched sacrifice. Elijah predicted a famine of 3 years, and no rain. Elijah helped keep a widow alive on practically nothing. Elijah knew the power of God. Yet even the great and might Elijah had times of little purpose. I recall a time where Elijah was tired and weary and felt all alone. It was at this point that God tells Elijah, "get up and do your work! I have 7,000 prophets who have not bowed the knee to Baal." In essence, God is saying that Elijah matters, but he really doesn't. It is a privilege to serve God, not a right.

So much of our individualistic culture says that we are entitled to rights. I am not sure how Biblical that type of thinking is. How much am I entitled to in the Bible? God is the only entitled one. I am God's subject, sent to do his bidding. I am entitled to obey. There is not a lot of choice in obedience. I can either chose to obey or not to. Why is obedience so difficult? What makes following orders a task and not a joy? It may have something to do with the Fall of humanity. Because we are psuedo "like God knowing good from evil" we think our plan is better. Our plan makes me happy now, my plan helps me out, my plan is better. Obedience is important, no, essential. If we do not obey the master's call, we do not follow Christ.

Obedience does not ask my opinion. Obedience is not concerned about my feelings. Obedience does not ask for me to solve all problems. Obedience is not preoccupied with me. Obedience is about God.

Obedience is a choice.

So as rain falls on the just and unjust, as the sun shines on the wicked and the holy, I am called to obey. The funny thing about obeying is that when I obey, all of my opinions and feelings seem to get taken care of in an even better manner.