Obedience and Outcomes

"'But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.'" Mark 6:1-13

Recently, my friend's son just completed Navy SEAL training and received his Trident. As a rightfully proud papa, he was telling me about the graduation and had pictures of the events of the weekend. It was awesome. Of the many themes of the training, one that stood out as it does with all our military branches -- Do what your told. Pretty simple really. Obey the commands. In doing so, those in charge have confidence of mission success which includes everyone making it through alive. 

In Mark 6, we see both Jesus and the disciples doing what they were told. Preach, heal, and cast out demons. Jesus' hometown crew was deeply offended. Who does he think he is? He was just here making stuff in the wood shop. Even relatives and members of his own family were unbelieving. The disciples were left shaking the dirt off their sandals when the towns they performed miracles in rejected the message. Even still, neither Jesus nor the disciples failed. They were obedient. 

In our world, outcomes get all the press. In a relationship with Jesus, it's about obedience. For a Jesus follower, obedience = success. Do what he tells you to do. Outcomes are his responsibility. Only the Holy Spirit can convict someone of sin, righteousness and judgement. Only the Father can draw someone to Jesus. Only the Lord can grant repentance. With God's help, we do what he tells us to do and he will produce with it exactly want he wants to produce. 

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