Am I rebellious?

by Toni Ullom

No one likes to think they are rebellious, especially to God. But sometimes we are without even realizing it. We label it as free choice, or cover it with excuses. It's a fact that if we want to do something, we will find a way. If we want to go on a trip we'll cut back on spending and save up for that trip, if we want to go out to eat, we'll cut back somewhere in the budget to find a way to do it. We are able to do anything that we set out minds too. As the old saying goes, where there is a will there is a way. If we look closely and examine our habits we will all see that the above statement is true.

Sometimes our rebellion comes in the form of just not wanting to do something. Recently during a revival it hit me, maybe I've been rebellious in not doing some things that my Pastor had been wanting me to do, I didn't realize the reason for him asking me, in a round about way to be there for certain meetings. He was waiting on me to figure it out but sometimes I don't take hints very well and need to just be told. I didn't understand the importance of the services, as I spend most of my weekends at church and thought that was enough.

Our visiting minister, pastor Charlie had said something during one of the services that clicked in my head as I was coming home after the service. I was praying as I drove and it hit me, I was being rebellious in a subtle way without even realizing it. I was being a rebel without a cause as they say, I had no real reason to rebel, and sad to say, I didn't even realize I was.

Yes I am not perfect, surprising isn't it? Hebrews 13:17 says Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

The church can't run as smoothly and in one accord if one member is out of sync with the others. Even sometimes if we don't understand why things are done the way they are, there is a good reason. God doesn't give a pastor a group of people to just ignore them, he gives them so they can become his feet, hands, etc. But if the pastor ignores them and doesn't push them in the right direction, those beneath him will never grow to the point where they are of any service to God.

Imagine if no one had come to you, had encouraged you to come to church, where would you be? Image a church with no power in it, being at deaths door with no hope, who would you turn to? This is the reason that God push's your pastor to get you into the place of faith that you can carry that healing to those in need, to bring the lost home. But without fellowship with God, through services that teach you the right way to do this, God may know your name, but can he use you as a conductor for that power?

Is it easy to sit in a service and even though the minister isn't looking directly at you, you know God's talking to you through them? Not at all. Is it easy to go back the next night knowing that more than likely your going to get your toes stepped on again? No, it's not, so why do we do it? Because just like a child who is scolded, we know its out of love and in the end, we are blessed by the changes it brings. Even though at that moment we would rather be anywhere else, it is a good thing.

To reach that point of usefulness, sacrifices have to be made. Sometimes some we don't wont to make. Sometimes its not even evident that we are rebelling, sometimes it takes a hard hit to wake us up. It did me, so what will I do? We'll for the time being, I'll step down from my part in the service till I get my ducks in a row. Will I just stop, no, by no means, I'll just keep plugging along till I get some discipline in my life.

Pastor C's church site.

Pastor Charlie Rogers Ministries.