Stepping Stones: Relationship or Obedience?

Transformational Tip
Yesterday we discussed what God desires from us. Today I want to be more specific. Say you have a choice of the following 2 kids…which would you choose? “Straight A” does everything right, chores all perfect, homework on time, straight A’s, no breaking curfew, courteous, polite, follows all the rules…but, she didn’t really like you, it doesn’t matter to her if you feel down, she isn’t interested in spending time with you or finding out more about you and couldn’t wait to leave when she turns 18. “Absent Minded” is rough around the edges, needs reminding for chores and homework, grades range from D’s to B’s, forgetful, and ill-mannered at times…BUT, she loves you, cares about you, she celebrates when you were happy, and is sad when you hurt, wants to spend time with you, is interested in how you tick, what you are interested in, and what you dream about, and enjoys going on errands with you. No brainer, right. Sometimes we get caught up thinking God is more interested in obedience than relationship. Sure He wants both, but if He could only have one, He yearns for our relationship with Him. Just think of the criminal on the cross, who had minimal obedience, but believed in Christ and how God rewarded that eternally.
Today, take a look at how much your day is spent in dutiful obedience, and how much is spent building and growing relationship with our Heavenly Father. When you shift the scales so pursuit of relationship far outwieghs obedience, you will be amazed at how obedient to God and His instruction you actually become. Click here to share with the Stepping Stones community your thoughts of Obedience vs. Relationship.

Prayer
O God, thanks for desiring relationship with me before I learn how to be obedient. If it was the other way around, and I needed to be cleaned up before I was worthy enough for You, I would be eternally damned. Help me not to fall into our world’s mentality of pursuing your approval instead of pursuing You. Once I learn to be close to You, the rest will take care of itself. In the name of the one who binds me to You; and all God’s children said - AMEN!

The Truth
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:39-42
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Luke 23:39-43