GodReflection: Power Words

The Texas Motor Speedway announced its plan to build the world’s largest HD screen. It will be so big that it needs a name like “Big Hoss TV.” The video board of 20,633 square feet, with its 4.8 million pixels and 281 trillion colors will stand 94.6 feet tall (12 stories high) and 218 feet wide.

That would be quite a display for power words to scroll before the spectators as a reminder of how to keep on track as we move toward Jesus. (I doubt that is what they have in mind for its use.)

I think of Jesus words, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”

There was a time when I used that verse frequently in sermons and in Bible studies. Pointing the verse toward others had a good ring to it. Surely, they could understand they weren’t obedient to the commands of Jesus as I was.

Jesus did not use the illustration about taking the log out of one’s own eye prior to the examination of the speck of dust in my neighbor’s eye to get a laugh from his audience. Jesus’ teaching is first and foremost personal. Pointing the verse toward me is sobering to say the least.

Commandment keeping can degenerate into legalism. Obedience should never lead to a legalistic spirit. Obedience flows from one pure spring. It flows from the love of Jesus.

Power words flash through my mind for only one purpose—to aid my faithfulness to Jesus. I can never be faithful to Jesus without seeking to be obedient.

This meets me on the court of daily life. Obedience cannot be limited to a time of worship. In fact, I would argue that as long as I focused on sincere worship, the chance of disobedience is rather remote.

The challenge of obedience is in my 24/7 walk. It is letting Jesus sit in the driver’s seat of my car in a traffic jam or in the fast lane on the freeway. It is being Jesus when the cashier makes a mistake.

It is obeying Jesus by taking time to interact through kind words and deeds with fellow travelers who battle disease or discouragement.

My words, my heart, and my actions demonstrate my obedience to Jesus or the lack there of.

I don’t want to follow the commands of Jesus to stack up merit. I do want to follow the commands of Jesus to be more like him.

How hard would it be to envision a “Big Hoss TV” that scrolls the power word obedience?

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – A GodReflection on Obedience as a Power Word.

Gary@GodReflection.org