The Challenge Series: Need It

Written By: Christy BrittonHave you ever felt incapable of obeying God’s word? I confess; I have. Too easily I’ve reasoned that some commands aren’t applicable to me at this stage in life. I’ve even justified in my mind that it’s not a command that requires my obedience; it’s more like a principle that desires my affirmation. For example, when I read verses like Micah 6:8, saying that the Lord requires me to seek justice, I’m at a loss. How could I possibly? I don’t know how. I wouldn’t even know where to start. I lack the skills. I’m a mom, not a slayer of injustice. Does God intend for ordinary moms like me to obey him by seeking justice?David Platt says in his book, Radical, “God actually delights in exalting our inability. He intentionally puts his people in situations where they come face to face with their need for him.” Our inabilities are not an excuse to disobey God’s good commands. Our insufficiency should drive us to the sufficiency of Christ. We need his grace to obey his word (Rom. 1:5).John Piper says, “all true obedience is done in the power of grace, not our own power.” We cannot rely on our strength to obey, we must rely on Christ, our righteousness (Jer. 23:6). And Christ commands us to obey (John 14:15). But what he requires, he also provides. Ezekiel 36:27 says, “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”When you struggle to obey, pray and ask your Father to help. Pray expecting him to. He will. God is glorified when we obey him (John 15:8) and that’s why you can be confident he will help you do it. God is all about his glory. And because we are image bearers (Gen. 1:27), we should be all about his glory, too.So, how will you bring him glory through obeying His good command to do justice? Anybody can talk about injustice. My pastor says, “We can’t just be people who speak. We can’t just have a big mouth. We need big arms.”As doers of the Word (James 1:22), consider the following ways to follow up your words with open arms in actionable obedience:

• Pray for persecuted Christians. Write to imprisoned believers around the world.
• Visit widows in nursing homes with your children.
• Engage the global orphan crisis through foster care and adoption.
• Visit the sick. Raise money for medical bills.
• Partner with para-church ministries that help the local church serve vulnerable people.
• Volunteer at a local homeless shelter.
• Honor life from the womb to the tomb. Welcome the unwanted into your family.
• Invite refugees from your city into your home. Help them find jobs. Tutor their children. Practice conversational English with them.
• Give sacrificially to justice ministries.
• Educate yourself about human trafficking and advocate to your sphere of influence on their behalf.
• Let a struggling single mom live with you to help her get back on her feet.
• Widen your social circles. Invite outcasts to your dinner table. Your home is your base of operations. Use it for God’s glory.
• Expose your children to injustice; don’t shelter them from it. Teach them our responsibility to seek justice.
• Think globally. God does.

We don’t always feel capable of obeying. But trusting in our own strength and abilities to obey tells the world that we don’t need Christ, we just need ourselves. In her book, Accidental Feminist, Courtney Reissig says, “God created us in his image. He wants us to tell a story about himself, and not about how much we can handle.” What story are we telling the world when we disobey God’s word because obedience feels impossible?We must remember the truth:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Phil. 4:13.”

Let’s tell the world a new story, a story of our neediness and his provision in obedience. Let’s show them how we obey God’s Word because of his ability and not our own. God requires us to seek justice. Will we, by his grace, obey?

Challenge Questions:

1. What areas do you struggle to obey God's good commands?

2. When you struggle to obey, do you seek God's help?

3. God commands you to seek justice; how are you obeying?

Meet Christy Britton.  She is married to Stephen and a homeschool mom to 4 fantastic boys.  The Brittons worship and serve as covenant members of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, NC.  She is a justice seeker and orphan advocate at 127 Worldwide.  In her minuscule free time, Christy loves reading (mostly Puritans), writing, hospitality, gospel conversations, good food, traveling to Africa, and discipleship. Team Britton is currently pursuing international adoption from Uganda.