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Hello, everybody, and welcome to a new episode of this podcast, Walking the Way, with Dr. Carlos Quijada. I'm so glad that you're here today as we continue with this series on walking by faith. How does that look like in real life? And um today we're gonna talk on topic about what obedience is like, and and uh I'll tell you the title in a moment, but um you know that there are moments in life when obedience to God, even though it seems clear, it's also costly. And and we see it uh characters in the Bible, but also in our own walk, we can experience that. And it doesn't matter where you're at in your walk with God, you could probably be just starting uh attending to a church, you you recently gave your life to Jesus, or maybe you're at a place where you're already uh embarking on a ministry or or on a mission that you are convinced that God has placed in your life. And you have already said yes, but you're starting to notice some some tensions, um, a distance, some misunderstanding, or even quiet disappointments from those people that you love that in the past you were very close to, and there's been a change here. Um now, why is that right? And and and today I'm gonna talk about when obedience to God costs us relationships, and and we as human beings, we are very relational beings, and it's something that it can impact us because we have uh this expectation that when we do what's right, everybody's gonna understand, everybody's going to affirm it, everybody is going to support it. But when we take that step of faith, we've realized that that's not always the truth. Sometimes even people in our own home may come against us. And and I want to share a few examples on that, but I want to start off by telling you that if that's where you're at right now, you are not alone, and and most importantly, that doesn't mean that you're outside of God's plans for your life, and we're going to frame this in a way that you are clear as to what's the direction that God wants you to take. So, um, from the beginning, we see in the Bible that obedience to God uh has often come with relational cost. The number one example is Jesus. Uh, we find in the gospel of Mark where he would be out doing his work uh for the Lord, and it mentions in chapter 13 about how his mother and his siblings were after him. Uh, some of them believed that he had even lost his mind. So in the beginning, not all of his uh earthly family were supportive of what he was doing. I mean, thankfully, later we see um his earthly mom marry um his siblings, that they were part of that first century church. But it wasn't always like that. Uh, and and there was that famous statement where Jesus was told, hey, your mother and your your siblings are they're out there after you, they're they're looking for you, your brothers. And and Jesus said, Who who is my mother and my brothers and my sisters and but those that are here, right? And and that's uh a little bit of context behind it is that some of them had thought like Jesus is is crazy, like what is wrong with him? And and they didn't understand the purpose why he was here. Another example that we find in the Old Testament, uh, Isaiah actually recently I was teaching about that at uh at one of our services when he was called, God told him firsthand, like, hey, you know, I I I'm calling you, I have a plan for you, but your own people, they're gonna turn their backs on you, they're not going to receive the message, it's gonna be rough. But the most important uh truth behind it is that God was going to be with him through that process. And we have examples of uh individuals like Jeremiah who uh God told him, Listen, you're you're going to a group of people that they're gonna be hard-headed, they're not going to pay attention to the message, so but you stand firm because they won't have an excuse after you have told them the words that I'm going to place in your mouth. Um, we we have other examples, the apostles, they they left behind their uh their their environment, their towns, uh they they all these things that they were accustomed to. And it these are situations that might look different for everybody. I'm not telling you that it's going to be exactly the same for you, but we need to be in alignment. And obedience is basically that is aligning ourselves with what God wants us to be, and there are times, situations in which that may imply that you need to change the dynamics in in some relationships, and sometimes you don't even have to do it, just stepping in obedience will automatically cause this ripple effect where people may not understand what is it that you're doing, what is it that God wants you to do? They're gonna question whether you are are in your right mind, and and things like that. So so we need we need to be mindful once again that if that's you, you're on the same boat with the prophets, with the apostles, with a lot of these believers, that they took a leap of faith and and decided to just put their trust in God. And most importantly, Jesus is also in that boat. And one of the reasons why this can bring some tensions in in this moment when you're be like, okay, God, I want to obey you, I want to do your will. Um it and we see this reaction from people, it can shock us because we have these misconceptions. Everybody will understand, everybody will support it, everybody will affirm it. Um, but that's not always the truth. I mean, there are going to be people in your circles that they will support you, they will affirm you, but even those at some moments they might not understand everything that you're doing or that God is asking you to do. Um, and when we decide to obey God and and and be like, you know, I am going to just walk by faith, I'm going to give him my all, it just reveals some deeper differences in the um values, priorities, also the timing uh of what people believe that is right and what God is showing you to do. Uh I personally have experienced that in my life and in a number of occasions. I I remember uh as a youth when I I knew that God was calling me, and uh the first people to oppose or not understand were the people in my home. Like my parents, they didn't understand that passion that I had. And and I know, like I'm gonna share there, there can be some extremes, and we need to be wise on how we do this. Um, but I was just uh on fire, and I wanted to be at the church all the time, and and there were so many things that I wanted to do because I knew God was calling me. I just needed to mature and how I would discern what God wanted me to do. But it did bring some tensions uh with my parents, um friends at school, uh they would make fun of me. I I would uh be with my Bible, I I would talk about Jesus, and and you know, I just I didn't care. I I was so in love and and and I still am that I don't I didn't mind what people would say, but I did see that tension, that cost of of relationships. Now, I want to bring some clarity as to what obedience is not, and and we need to be very careful, like I said, on these aspects, these areas, right? Um, not all relational strains are holy. Uh we so it's important to clarify that obedience to God does not mean being reckless with people. Uh just because God has revealed something to you doesn't mean that you'll be like, oh, you know, uh I know like like we used to say, I know something, you don't know, I know something you don't know, and and and to start acting prideful towards people or or to be um uh uh intentional of cutting with people that you don't need to cut. I mean, obviously there are relationships that may be toxic in your life, uh and and I pray that God gives you the ability to differentiate those types of relationships that you need to walk away if if you're with somebody who's constantly encouraging you to do wrong things or to do things that it just affects negatively your relationship with God, yes, uh it's important to put boundaries, put a distance, but people that are your loved ones, say family, siblings, parents, and things like that. Um the Bible tells us that as long as it depends on us to be at peace with those around us. So being obedient to God doesn't necessarily be mean being reckless with people around you. Um it also, and and that goes in that same line, does not mean speaking harshly uh to others and then call that boldness. I I see people that in their seal, they instead of bringing people to the Lord or or encouraging them to seek the Lord, they distance them even more because it's like they they have a Bible and they're is is like figuratively hitting people with the Bible and and and accusing them, you know, you're gonna go to hell and things like that. So uh being bold in your faith does not mean being harsh to people. You can be bold and yet be loving and kind and respectful to those around you. Because think about it, when you were uh walking outside of the will plans of God, if somebody would have come to you and be that way, uh maybe you would have been like, okay, I'm gonna follow God, but that's not gonna endure because the Bible tells us that it is his benevolence that brings us to the Lord. God, through his goodness, his grace, he attracts us to him and and and and makes us see our wrongs, uh, the areas that we uh are in darkness. And and it's important for us to reflect that character with the people around us. It also does not mean using God's name as a shield for poor communication. Um, going back to my years of youth, uh, in my seal, I did things that um were not right. I mean, I I had the intention, but um it wasn't right. I remember uh my mother who who was also a believer, but she did not understand that level. It was her first time dealing with a teenager who just happened to love Jesus and going to church. So for her it was something new, and and um and and she was trying to protect me from getting hurt at church because she saw that I was too involved and and and and and just a little bit of uh a context as to where she was coming from. But at the time I didn't see it that way, and and unfortunately there were people that wrongly advised me and said, you know, she's being used by the enemy and things like that, and and I would use the name of God to attack her back and accuse her, and and in in instead of acting in obedience and reflecting Jesus, I was being rebellious uh uh towards my my parents in in that sense, under the disguise of being uh Christian and being bold. So we need to understand God, He cares about our character and how we carried ourselves. Um, and and that could be in the family, it could be at work. Um, some people when they are you know on fire for Jesus, they might fall into uh becoming disrespectful or or um uh too lax or or negligent about their work because they say, you know, I I gotta do these things and uh for for the Lord supposedly, but then they neglect some responsibilities that uh is going to give a bad testimony to those people, right? So we need to think on okay, okay, how can they see Jesus in my life? And and they're not they might not see it in the spiritual things when you're at church and and all that, which I mean it's great. They're gonna see it in your daily life and in how you behave at work, what kind of an employee are you, and and things like that. So um it also doesn't mean abandoning love, patience, and humility. Uh being like, you know, because I'm a Christian, I don't mingle with uh worldly people, and and you know, like they're there, I'm here. That's not the heart of Jesus. He he actually was accused for hanging out with uh uh worldly people, and of course, he wasn't doing what they were doing, but he would say, you know, this the Son of Man didn't come to heal those that don't need healing, he came to uh look for the sea, the the sick, those that are lost, and and that's something that we also uh need to be remindful that we as the light and the salt of the earth, we need to be around those that need light and need salt. Uh using it in that spiritual term, right? To they need that flavor that the Lord has enabled us to bring in the world around us. So, so my friends, you know, obedience is real, uh, it should produce the fruit of the spirit. Uh, it it is clear what that fruit looks like. Uh Paul he said, but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, uh, meekness, uh, faith, purity, and and all those things are to be reflected in our daily life. Now, what does obedience require of us? Uh it requires clarity as to what our priorities are. God is first no matter what, even when it's misunderstood. And that's the difference, all right? When we declare that God is first, not just declare it, but we show it. It's something that people might not understand, but even so, we prioritize God. Um years ago, when I uh decided to go to college, um after I finished high school, I enrolled in a medical school abroad. Uh and I would hear people say, you know, we're never gonna see you in church again because it's it's the the studies are going to consume you, and I'm like, okay, well, that's that's a possibility. But um I I asked God, God, I'm I'm gonna do this, and and at the moment I felt led to do that. And and I could see looking back the plans God had for that, but I said, Lord, but help me always have you first in my life. I want to be able to still uh make you my priority. And and yes, it it came at a cost of sacrificing uh time that I could use in other things, but I would dedicate to God, but at the same time, not neglecting my role as a student, uh, because that is also part of my testimony, and and and perhaps in your case, maybe you you're an employee somewhere, and and being a believer that obeys God, it can translate into striving for being the best, the most excellent employee, or the most excellent student, the most excellent husband or wife. If your spouse is not a believer, Paul he says, don't leave your spouse because of your faith. I mean, if they are okay to staying with you, hey, they might come to know Jesus through your testimony. If they decide to leave, well, let them decide that, but you don't make that decision for them. You strive to uh show Jesus wherever you are. Um, so definitely emotional maturity is required in this being obedient, uh, the ability to be misunderstood without becoming bitter. Yeah, people don't understand me. Uh uh, you know, and and then some people they they start complaining, hey, it's okay. And and and that you can be okay with that, that's a sign of maturity. Also, uh the ability to be questioned, be without you becoming uh defensive about it. Uh, some Christians they go into these arguments because people question their faith. Hey, when you're the light, those that haven't experienced the light, they won't understand it. So that's what that's just what they're going to do. Oftentimes we expect people that have not encountered God or Jesus to act as if they have, but they they can't. You you have, so you need to show that level of maturity to be like, okay, they still don't understand. I was there before, and and through God's love and grace, I came to know Him. So give them that opportunity through your good character, through your love. Also, uh being mature is to be resisted be without becoming resentful. All right. So those things are important to be in place. Also, uh obedience requires boundaries, uh, and these boundaries are not walls of pride, but boundaries rooted in conviction. It's so so important that we as people who walk by faith, we have convictions, convictions given by God that will help us stay rooted when there are people that are trying to pull us away from that. Um, so so that's important because sometimes uh people in in this misunderstanding may try to convince you out of your walk with Christ. Christ and and we can love deeply but still not be led by what they approve or disapprove. Remember who you are and who you're serving and who you live for and it is he who has the authority to guide your uh your your your steps um so there's a part that many people don't talk about enough when it comes to relationships when um they're affected by this um sometimes relationships may take may change in how they look um some may look different for a season and then uh things may be good after a while and and so on and so forth um and and some may never fully agree some people might walk away from your life or may never understand uh what is it that you have believed um it's in those moments where we may be tempted to respond emotionally uh try to prove yourself or to force them to understand or or to just shut down completely uh but those none of those are the way that Christ wants us to respond the better responses are my friends is to first be consistent in your faith in your walk um secondly stay faithful uh to the Lord uh be steady in your character and stay anchored in love because the reality is that those times of misunderstanding and it could be your own spouse perhaps your spouse is also a believer and and you guys are in this walk together but there's gonna be times when God might ask you or require of you to do something that your spouse might not catch on yet but that is not permanent and we need to keep that into perspective and pray that whatever it is that you're convinced that God told you to do and if they don't understand that they would come to that level of understanding so that whatever strain there may be it it could be replaced by that unity again and that's mostly in in the case of spouses or or people that are very close in your life and and just think that God is present remember that God is press is present in all this now I want to give you guys this and and and and as we come to a close um obedience is not loss in our culture when we think of obedience we tend to think of oh I'm losing but it's not loss when you zoom out and think of it in the in in the bigger scheme of things it is actually an alignment with God and when we align ourselves with God everything falls in place it might not seem so in the moment but it will do so in the right time in the right pace of God what feels like losing people may actually be God realigning your life with his purpose. What may seem like a separation it may actually be a formation everything that is happening to you in the process of being obedient is not a waste of time. God uses every single aspect of what is costing you for his glory and for your growth and development as a child of God so so don't lose heart stay focused and stay the course as you walk with Jesus because he has promised that he would not abandon his children. So thank you so much for tuning in in this episode of walking the way with Dr. Karlovski how that I pray that this message has really encouraged you and and has helped you see more clearly as to where God wants you to head and where he wants you to be whatever it is that you are doing for the Lord stay strong stay faithful and keep walking with Jesus because at the end the reward will be being with him eternally so God bless you and until next time