I just returned from our church’s Ash Wednesday service. My husband used this passage from the Gospel of Luke as the scripture focus for his brief, albeit powerful meditation. And while I didn’t intend to come “off the bench” this week with my words and my sweat accordingly, I must at least come into the midst of our huddle and offer you a thought—a word that struck me profoundly and pointedly at the moment of its hearing.
Could it be enough to simply obey the voice of the Master because he “says so?” Could his “say so” be as much as we’ll ever need to warrant our “because you said so” in all our many matters? Whether it be…
To cast our nets into deep waters because he says so.
To anchor our boats in the harbor and to follow because he says so.
To walk a top the raging seas because he says so.
To be prepared in season and out with an answer because he says so.
To feed the 5000 because he says so.
To embrace the least of these because he says so.
To carry our cross because he says so.
To feed his sheep because he says so.
To wash feet because he says so.
To love because he says so.
To pray about everything because he says so.
To go into all the world because he says so.
To _______________________ simply and profoundly because he says so.
Isn’t his “saying so” a worthy enough word to necessitate our awe and our immediate obedience?
It should be.
God’s words via his Word are life and breath and the stuff of eternal and lasting significance. And if for some reason in this season of beginning pilgrimage to the cross where God made good on his word once and for all, if you’re choosing the words of man over the words of God, then you have chosen less. You’ve obeyed the cravings of your sinful flesh, and your life and heart will be found wanting at the end of the day.
At the end of this life.
You will walk to the grave missing out on the deepest catch of your sacred and intended purpose, and you will forsake the overflowing grace of God’s intended sacrifice that was always meant for your keeping. And to miss that, friends, all because his “saying so” isn’t good enough to yield our “doing so,” is to miss everything.
Let it not be so my fellow pilgrims. Instead, let us willingly concede our wills, our wants and our words, to the One whose word never fails, is always true, and is guaranteed to lead us home into safe harbor where the unseen faith and trust of our “now” gives way to the sights and the splendor of our “next.”
It’s enough for me; I pray it enough for you.
Thanks for the huddle time, my good and kind readers. May God be with each one of you as you take up your cross this Lenten season and carry it all the way to Calvary. He is so worthy of the climb. As always,
We had an Ash Wednesday service, too. I look forward to them every year! We never experienced them in our home when I was growing up.
Have you ever made the statement “Because I said so” to your children? I sense God saying that to me whenever I question him and his will for my life!
Your quick work is a good word! Thanks for posting it. :o)
This speaks to me as I am closer to going through a door I have not gone through before.
Melanie@Bella~Mella
YES, WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO HIS SAYING SO…SO THIS REQUIRES OUR BEING QUIET AND GIVING HIM TIME TO TALK TO US, KEEPING OURSELVES AWARE IN EACH MOMENT IN CASE HE IS TALKING TO US THROUGH A SITUATION, IN A SONG, IN A TOUCH.
MAY GOD ESPECIALLY BLESS YOU AND YOURS THIS ASH WEDNESDAY EVENING…EASTER’S A COMIN’
Oh, friend. I just read your last post and now understand. You are the MVP, you know that? Cheering others on from the bench…ready to step in the game when the Coach says 🙂
What a lovely Ash Wed. meditation. Would that I could have sat on the bench beside you and taken this one in.
Entering into the waiting.
But aren’t we always?
Love you, gal!
A brief but profound Word indeed.
How I long to be yielded to Him simply because He says so. Whether at the end of any given day, or the end of all my days, I don’t want to be found wanting.
You’re right. He is so worth anything He may ask of us.
Thank you, sweet one. Thinking and praying on this one…
We always want to know “why”… sometimes it is so much better and safer and gentler to not know why… but to just do the thing… “because He says so”…
Exactly…
Elaine, God used your post to encourage me to continue following Him in an area He’s been speaking to me about lately. Thanks for sharing.
“let us willingly concede our wills, our wants and our words, to the One whose word never fails” – Lent is a not so simple journey of relinquishment. As I prepare myself for this path to the cross, I pray that I will find the strength to simply do “because He says so.”
Thank you for this huddle time.
Denise
Our pastor taught last night on Luke 5 as well. I have a message that the Lord gave me last year on this passage and its focus is “because you say so”.
In the book that I am currently reading and getting ready to lead an internet discussion on, Crazy Love, Francis Chan addresses this very issue. Jesus did call us to be half hearted Christians. He called us to go all the way and be radical Christians–because He said so.
Bless you!
Leah
Yes! His Will is always best, and that is the only reason we need. Thanks for the reminder, my friend!
God’s ‘say so’ should equal my obedience.
Father, make me willing,
Joy
It’s faith…acting on His word, not knowing the end result…trusting. Thats the kind of faith I choose. Now if I would only live it-fully, moment-by-moment. Self tends to get in the way, satan throws his flaming arrows…it is a tough journey indeed.
But He is my parent, He knows best…again, I must trust.
Thanks you Elaine.
In His Graces~Pamela
wifeforthejourney:
You are, as ever, a constant source of encouragement and a well of truth. Thank you for all the ways you help me go deeper and draw closer to the Lord.
For all those out there in blog-land, elaine and I have been at the same church for five wonderful years and counting. After we had been “the parsonage family” for about the first three months, a group of ladies from the church cornered me (in a good natured way) and let me know:
“You can move someday, if you have too, but elaine and the kids will have to stay!” 🙂
Five years later, I’m still convinced that elaine the best asset I could ever have – coach, start, or bench – she can do it all. Hope you are having a great day honey! Love,
~ Billy
Coach Elaine, thank you for coming off the bench for a moment to huddle with us. I was blessed in the huddle tremendously!
Refreshing! I was speaking of you to a friend of mine or should I say emailing about you to a friend of mine. We are typically very descriptive people and I said in a word Elaine is REFRESHING! She’ll be popping in. She doesn’t have a blog and is not interested in blogging and may not comment but in case she does, her name is Janet from NJ.
Wow. Did that ever strike me powerfully. It was just 3 or 4 days ago that I heard someone at the office sharing along those same lines.
The Lord's "say so" is enough for me, especially as I reflect on the many years & equal number of heartaches my own "say so"s got me.
Great thoughts!
Kathleen
Elaine, these words are so challenging and inspiring! You’re so right. Everything in the Christian life amounts to faith and obedience. I pray, “Dear God, help me to do anything you ask” just because you say so. God bless.
I really wanted to go to our Ash Wed. service last night, but child #2 was finally hungry after being sick, and child #1 started running a fever. Didn’t think we’d share the germy love at church with our friends!!
Something that our preacher mentioned on Sunday was not necessarily giving up a favorite food for Lent, but giving up something else. Maybe something that takes up our time–like watching tv. Then, replacing it with something good, like reading His WORD for that time you’d spend watching the tv. I really liked that concept.
Thanks for thte beautiful scripture and post, Elaine!
Hugs,
Susan
Yes Lord, because you say so. Father God please forgive my disobedience. I pray that I would bow down before You in reverence & honor because, well, because YOU ARE HOLY. I praise You for using Elaine in this way to reach our sinful hard hearts and break the hardness into softness and obedience to You, Father. Lead, guide & direct my life & those of my bloggy friends Father. Thank You for Your grace, mercy & love even though I do not deserve it. I do accept it Father. In Jesus' name, amen.
Amen, Sis.
“She who refreshes others will herself be refreshed.”
(Proverbs 11:25b)
Thank you for taking the time to refresh the saints.
Love,
LaLee
Saying so and doing so. This is one of my life verses. I love this passage. I love how so many times we wait on the dock,just wait and we don’t do and then we miss out on something amazing. Jesus said to get into the boat, go,do so, and also to have faith in the direction you are going. I loves this passage did I already tell you this. Thanks sweet lady!!
Hey friend. Thank you for your kind words. You prove to be a great source of encouragement for me. Your words are life-giving. Death and life are in the power of the tongue!
I will be praying for you as you speak this weekend. How exciting.I will be anxious to hear what God does.
Thank you for watching today. I too am well aware of how slow the process of sanctification is. It is 2 steps forward and 4 step back it seems, but it is God who is at work in you both to will and do of His good pleasure. Blessings.
It’s funny you posted this scripture because it is the third time it has come up this morning! The Lord has struck me with the “deep waters” part. He is calling me to go to places deep and unknown. But therein lies the catch. Thanks for sharing from your bench time!
Thank you for popping in to share as you do! I know this time for you will be refreshing!
I must constantly pray:
“Help me obey. I cannot do this alone. I don’t even want to try!”
Thanks, Elaine, for a beautiful word from the King.
Blessings,
Jen
I love that, Elaine! Back in September, I wrote a post entitled “Because He Says So”, and it was based on that same Scripture.
Wishing you a rich and reflective Lenten season.
Great message Elaine. Imagine all that we could do for the kingdom if we could only believe that what God says is true. I mean really believe it in our heart of hearts. Having so much trust that we stand against the mountain that is in our path and believe we can make it move all because Christ said so!
He said it, I believe it.
http://www.mlordi.wordpress.com
Peace Elaine–
I am missing you.
:(Laura
Elaine, just stopped by to say, I was thinking of you and love you.
I know when you return it will be with a right now word from the Lord.
I have this verse taped to my kitchen cabinet, thanks to Stone Fox. Not a coincidence, I am certain.
Truly Amazing! How our God speaks to the hearts of His children. The Lord pointed me to this verse just yesterday.
Your lovely post confirms the what the Lord is pointing out to my heart.
Truly a refreshing from your heart to mine. Thank you.