Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Willingness (02/21/05)
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TITLE: Are we willing to be Obedient? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Richard Krejcir
02/23/05 -
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Southwest Airlines is an example of willingness: “The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit.” “Hire for attitude and train for aptitude” and “Customer Service Ambassadors” are their mottos. This is demonstrated by the fact that when any of their employees—from a captain to a baggage clerk—sees trash, they pick it up. If they see a person in need, they help them out. If they see a bag left standing alone, they respond and do not wait for the person whose job it is to do something. It is not uncommon to see the captain of the plane helping the baggage handlers load the plane so they can be on time, and it is not uncommon to see off-duty stewards showing a passenger the check-in procedures or helping them with his/her baggage. Southwest is doing well as a business and an airline while others without this mindset are literally going bankrupt! Imagine if, as Christians, we did this (2 Cor. 5:20)! That we had an attitude of willingness to be better and to serve for our Lord’s glory! Imagine how our relationships and church would vastly improve!
Obedience needs willingness to go all out in faith, and to endure extreme persecution for the Lord characterized John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1 -12)! He was the road builder, laying the path for the Lord. He removed the rocks of sin by tearing them up and exposing them, without fear of reprisal by the arrogant and prideful hypocrites. He was a person of wiliness and indeed extreme, and perhaps his extreme was needed to show a corrupt religious system its errors and point to the truly Righteous Messiah. I wonder if such a person would be welcomed in a church today? Such extreme commitment is considered foolish amongst the “world,” and even among many Christians. We may not be called to eat bugs and curse pious frauds, but we are called to be people who are filled with willingness, the willingness of obedience in our hearts, minds, and actions! In addition, this does force us to take an extreme stand!
Willingness means all that we do in life must be a reflection of a life surrendered to Christ (John 3:30; Gal. 2:20-21; Phil. 3:1-14). If you are so self-willed there can be no room for the living Christ, this may mean that others will use you, take advantage of you, get mad at you, ignore you, go around you, ridicule you, and persecute you! But, remember, what they do to you, they do to Him! Make sure you are not the one persecuting the Lord!
What can I do to remain a person who is willing? Keep our eyes on God, not on people! If you only seek God for your “felt” needs, you will never understand or rely on God for your “real” needs! Neither will you understand yourself, or His wonderful plan for you (John 17:22)! Your faith will be on your terms only. How sad that would be! How much you will lose. We will be like the airlines that negate the customer service and are now going bankrupt. Be in love with Him. Our motives, obedience, and persevering will be the keys! Seek His presence, and be persistent in your prayers.
The willingness that God calls us to is Obedience, it is not in words, but in deeds that demonstrate our words through practice and action (James 1:22-25)! When we read and/or hear the Word of God, we will have the desire and heed the call to put it into action. There will be times we do not feel like it, but our obedience will override our feelings so we do remain steadfast and secure (1 Thess. 2:23). By our obedience in faith, we may suffer temptations, trouble, persecution, and condemnation from the world. It may seem our foundation has shifted by that constant beating, but He will remain steadfast in us when we remain steadfast in our faith! Keep your faith real, valuable, and practical on His solid Rock. He will not leave you, nor forsake you (1 Cor. 3:11; 10:4; Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:4-6; Heb. 13:5). So, let Him be the Rock-solid foundation of your life to help you be the person who is willing to obey (Matt. 7)!
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