Opposition as We Walk in God's Will - Day 136 Through the Bible

Along the road to the cabin - Celo Mountain Lands - near Mt. Celo Church

God's Impact on My Life Through His Word:  My Lessons and Applications

Opposition as We Walk in God's Will ( 2 Sam 5 and 6; John 5)  We have learned through our months of study through the Bible that the walks of the saints, God's chosen leaders, the life of Jesus Christ and the apostles were anything but smooth.  We WILL have opposition as we live and walk in God's will.  In fact, when we are closer to His will, we will attract some of the fiercest opposition.  Of course, Christ's life was demonstrative of this.

Opposition to Jesus' Walk in God's Will - In John 5 Jesus is telling the Pharisees (the religious leaders of the time who were plotting His death, persecuting Him!), "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.  For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself does, and He will show Him greater works that these, that you may marvel...He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him."  But it was His following God, His healing on the Sabbath, His claiming God as His Father that these religious leaders found the most abhorrent. '"For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.  But Jesus answered them, 'My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.'  Therefore, the Jews sought all the more to kill Him because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God."'

Opposition in David's Walk in God's Will - In 2 Sam 5 and 6 we see opposition to David and his love of the LORD coming from his first wife, Michal, Saul's daughter - the wife of David's youth.  She is appalled by his lack of dignity (his humility before the ark of the LORD in dancing exuberantly in a linen ephod), that he was "uncovering" himself before the maids of his servants.  David answered her, "It was before the LORD (not you), who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel.  Therefore, I will play music before the LORD.  And I will be more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight.  But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor." (Emphases mine)

My Lessons and Applications: Both Jesus and David had focus on, determination, perseverance, loyalty - to God, for His purposes, for the people, but in opposition to the world's philosophy.  In both cases, it was exuberance, zeal for God, not for traditions of man or cultural expectations, but for God's honor, glory and purpose that caused the opposition.  Michal's wife was barren for life (with the Biblical implication that it was because of this opposition to David's zeal for the LORD).  The Jewish leaders were showing barrenness in their true understanding and love of God.  In both instances, the people were focused on themselves, on their image and perception, their status and power, within their worlds.  Humility before and love of God was not a consideration.  What about my life?  Am I more concerned with what others think?  My family?  My church?  A perceived status before others?  Is my focus where it should be - on following Christ in obedience, regardless of opposition?

Charles Stanley in his Life Lessons and Life Principles: "Do you long for God as David did in Psalm 63?  Your answer will determine the impact of your life...Christ wants to be our focus - the most important person in our lives, whom we adore.  We were created to love and worship God - that's our primary purpose.  Our service should be the overflow of a life of worship and love. (Luke 10:27) Life Principles Daily Bible - pgs. 595 and 596)