When I hear the word obedience, I immediately think back to the days of my youth when I was the owner of a beautiful Border Collie called Cap. He was a truly amazing dog, not only was he successful in competitive obedience, but I was able to train him to help my disabled Mum. He could fetch the post, her glasses, bring in the milk, close doors and empty the washing machine. He was also very adept at stealing food, his worse vice, and it was to our dismay when one day the remains of the Sunday roast disappeared behind the greenhouse, never to be seen again.
He was not only a helper, but a loyal friend who listened without being critical, who stayed close when you needed comfort and who was always generous with his enthusiastic greeting when anyone came to visit, or when I returned home from school or work. We all need that someone who will love us unconditionally, regardless of how disillusioned or grumpy we may be.
Being obedient isn't something we take to easily, is it? It cannot be denied that the obedience demanded of us as Christians stretches beyond our human capability. I've recently been studying the Sermon on the Mount as leader of the Inspire Bible Fellowship at Goffs Oak Methodist Church. The demands made of us to live our lives according to the values of God's Kingdom and not according to the ways of the World, to be salt and light, it's a tall order, is it not? But let us not be faint-hearted, or worse still, half-hearted, but strive with the help of the Holy Spirit to live as Christ demanded. Let us not be distracted as Cap sometimes was.
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