Obedience Is Such a Precious Thing…
September 20, 2012 5 Comments
Let me tell you what obedience means. This heavy rainfall came upon us once while we were in a forest with not so tall trees; the trees were not higher than a regular house. Father Cleopa was sitting in one spot, I was in a different spot – looking for thicker shrubs for us to take shelter under. However, Fr. Cleopa kept calling me from under the branches to come sit next to him in that spot. There were about 30 meters between the two of us. I kept telling him that my spot was better and saying “No!” But upon a second thought, I said to myself: Wait a minute. Why don’t I just listen to Father Cleopa! So I just ran out from there and the instant I left it, lightning struck down that exact spot – where I had been sitting a second before. I was SO impressed. Obedience is SUCH a precious thing.
— In the Wilderness with Fr. Cleopa – Fr. Arsenie Papacioc Remembers
About Fr Stephen Smuts
Especially obedience to Holy Scripture!
So tell us, are you obedient to the dietary laws of the Book of Deuteronomy and would you advocate the death penalty for disobeying one’s parents? We need to know!
Joseph: Now you are talking about the “obedience” to the theology & interpretaion from Holy Scripture! But yes, generally I believe in the moral and spiritual reality of the O.T. Text! Btw, here’s one you perhaps will need to look up? but in my Reformed Anglican past.. I have been a “Theonomist”! I have somewhat revised that, but I do love the Book of Deuteronomy = Second Law, from 17, is where “copy of the law” is so rendered from Rabbinic “mishneh”, a doubling. The Hebrew Title – Haddbarim = “the words”. It is the fifth book, concluding the five books of the Penetateuch.
Btw, just a wee question for you… Do you believe homosexuality is an “abomination” to the LORD? (Lev. 18:22)? This is one of today’s cultural issues! But moral and spiritual things don’t change in GOD!
It is inadvisable to take shelter under any tree in a lightning storm – any tree being a potential but sure path for a lightning surge to the Earth. However, if I were in the wilderness with a ‘holy person’ – who ‘listens to God’, or an Angel – I would be inclined to ‘Obey’ them – even if it were contrary to common sense. As we are constantly surrounded by…the ‘Precious Obedience’ of God’s Holy Angels (Who do HIS Bidding), one would do well to imitate them…in being vigilant, watchful/wakeful and ‘open to listen’!
Yes