In Touch 06-16-04

In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley

Wednesday June 16, 2004
InTouch Early Light Devotional

Obeying God: When We Say Yes
Luke 5:1-11

Teaching children to swim begins with a simple lesson - they must be taught to put their face in the water. That first step will open the door to learning how to swim. Unless the child masters that one small skill, swimming remains out of reach, and some future pleasure is sacrificed.

Obeying God always begins with a small step, one that may sometimes seem insignificant or unrelated to the task at hand. Yet it is where God wants us to begin. Jesus had been addressing the crowds when He asked to get into Peter's boat. This did not seem like a request that would open the door to ministry or even great blessing. But it was the place where Peter was to start. Our saying yes to God in the small things is an essential step to His greatest blessings. Other people will also derive benefit from our obedience. When Simon Peter consented to Jesus' request, the result was two boatloads of fish, more than enough for all those with him.

Obedience to God may require us to do some things that appear unreasonable. A carpenter asked professional fishermen to stop fishing and take Him on board. Those with Peter may have questioned why he suspended the work to accommodate Jesus. Others may question us on whether the matter is important or reasonable. We may wonder too.

Obedience in the smallest of matters can open the door to God-ordained opportunities and lead to blessings for us and others. How do you respond to God's requests? Does the word "yes" come quickly to your lips?

For free online one-to-one mentoring with Dr. Charles Stanley, visit www.charlesstanleyinstitute.com.

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