Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
Worrying about the results of obeying God is one of the biggest reasons why people do not obey Him. "You can't be real [in God] without hurting somebody's feelings", my father said in his sermon. "Worrying about that hinders many from obeying God."
If Abram had worried about what foreigners would think about him entering their territory alone, he would have remained under the sheltering walls of Ur with his idolatrous family-and the book of Genesis would have told no tale of Abraham, the friend of God. If Stephen had worried about whether or not the Jewish judges would approve of his testimony, he would never have been stoned to death-and millions would have missed out on the soul-stirring sermon the young man preached to Israel's High Court (Acts 7). If Paul had worried about what the philosophers on Mar's Hill might think about Jesus' resurrection, he would never have told them about it and would never have been laughed off the stage-nor would he have won the souls of Dionysus, Damaris, and others who were there that day listening to the stranger speak. If Jesus had worried about whether or not men liked him, he would have escaped that awful, degrading torture at the hands of cruel Roman soldiers, as well as the horrible death of the cross-but the repentant cries of billions of souls for help and mercy from God would have been ignored. Earth, hell, Paradise and everyone in them would have been consigned to the Law of Fire by the Father, struggling in agony and hopelessness forever. Everything depended on Jesus.
There is an honor that comes from only God, and we are dishonoring God so long as we do not receive it. But we cannot receive it so long as we are worried about maintaining the approval of others around us. Sure, everybody who has normal feelings wants the approval of those whom he knows. Everybody with normal feelings wants friends. But Jesus told some of Israel's leaders that they could never receive the honor that comes from God only, so long as they were seeking each other's approval (Jn. 5:41-44). God will supply all the friends and family we need, all the money, food, and clothes, and everything else that we need, if we will just do as Jesus said: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mt. 6:33).
The temptation of the flesh is to find a way to obey God and retain the honors and praise of men at the same time. The simple call of the Spirit is to obey God, no matter what happens next. The results of obedience to God are none of man's business. Whether the results of our obedience are pleasant or unpleasant is God's choice, and the man who concerns himself with that issue will always come a little short of what God requires him to do. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen men and women stumble at this one stumbling block. Worrying about the results of obeying God's Word, most often fear of a husband's or a wife's reaction, has cost more people their souls than any other error that I can think of. Faith knows that obedience to God always eventually leads to eternal peace and joy. And if on this earth we must suffer a while because we have done the will of God, those sufferings, Paul said, "are not to be compared to the glory" that Jesus will give to those who love him.
What many people do not appreciate is that for God merely to think on us and to speak to us is a very great honor. To have our Creator condescend to speak to our hearts is an unspeakable blessing, and to have the opportunity to obey that Voice and to do the will of God is a sacred privilege. We have been greatly blessed if we can but have God's thoughts injected into our hearts. And then, beyond mere thinking right thoughts, to be given the love of God and strength in spirit to actually do what is right is a precious gift.
Wise men take advantage of the opportunity to obey God while they live on earth; righteous men become so excited about their fleeting opportunity to obey God that they do not consider the consequences. They do not meddle with God's business. To be able to hear and obey God is so wonderful a gift that godly men jump at the opportunity to do so, and they prudently leave all the results to God.
Mind your own business, my dear friend. It is God's part to guide; it is our part only to follow. It is God's business to determine the results of all actions. It is our business, our precious privilege, only to act under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.
All we need to know is what God's will is. When we want to know what the results will be before we decide whether or not we will do His will, we are "in the flesh" not "in the Spirit". And "if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body [such as worrying about results], ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:13-14).