who is in charge?

Who is in charge?  Be careful how you answer that.  I have caught myself many times give the wrong answer, untentionally.  What I mean is that there are times we watch who is around or wonder people will think before we do what God says to do.  Is following God that important anyway?

I considered these questions and thoughts before last Sunday's message because of some ideas that had crossed through my brain.  This week I am grappling with questions of intimacy and time with God above other stuff that is in my life and in the lives of every Christian.  What God is concerned about and pleased with is our obedience to Him.  That above all ought to help us answer our question about who is in charge.

Here is a passage from my reading this morning:

Mark 3:1-6 (The Message)

 ^1-3 Then he went back in the meeting place where he found a man with a crippled hand. The Pharisees had their eyes on Jesus to see if he would heal him, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction. He said to the man with the crippled hand, "Stand here where we can see you."

 ⁴ Then he spoke to the people: "What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?" No one said a word.

 ^5-6 He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." He held it out—it was as good as new! The Pharisees got out as fast as they could, sputtering about how they would join forces with Herod's followers and ruin him.

Jesus knew the truth. He understood that people wanted to accuse Him.  Jesus knew the friction between law and grace.  What he taught us was the right thing to do is always to do good when we can.

How often do we not do good because we fear the outcome or what people will think or even what it will cost us?  God has called us to serve.  He hasn't called us to worry or judge.  It is time to figure out who is in control of your life and begin to act like what you find.  My prayer for me and you is that Jesus and no one else is in charge.  Lets follow Him and serve those around us when we have the opportunity to do so.

Proverbs 3:27 (NIV) --- Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.