Once we become yoked with Christ, the attraction of doing our own good will fades and in its place is a new sense of peace and purpose due to our submission and obedience. Sadly, romantic expectations of blessing are part of our carnal desire to be rewarded for this submission and obedience. This appetite for a smooth, blessed road is unfortunate and unscriptural. Shrouded within this expectation is the childish, self-centered misconception that God’s ways are like our ways.
Mary, the mother of Christ is a beautiful example of what saying “yes” to God may mean for each of us. Mary’s submission began with her acceptance of being chosen to be the mother of the Messiah:
And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38
Can we ponder just for a minute what Mary imagined her future would be like? Prestige…riches…power…wow, me, the very mother of the Messiah! How many hours did Mary spend day dreaming about all the blessings that were headed her way? We can’t know except that very soon Joseph’s his intent to reject her must have caused distress. How many sleepless nights did Mary spend before the angel intervened in Joseph’s dreams? This was just the first of many, many distresses yet to come. As prophesied by Simeon, Mary’s romantic expectations would be fully dead as she experienced the sword thrust into Christ’s side piercing her through also.
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this {Child} is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed-and a sword will pierce even your own soul–to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35
Obedience is not our ticket for a blessing-filled ride. Instead, obedience is the only option for a bondslave. When we obey we should expect only Christ’s glory, go forward only for Christ’s glory and be satisfied with the glory being only Christ’s.