God's commands must be done

God’s commands must be done 

“But when God commands something contrary to the customs or laws of a people, even if that has never been previously done,  it has to be done.” -Book 3, chapter viii

Augustine reminded me of so much truth from this chapter. God may call us to things that society and the world may say are absolutely crazy. They may be considered obscure because they have never been done. Maybe God calls someone to missions in a place where they will not make it home to their family alive. Or maybe God calls someone to share the gospel with a boss and that conversation could cost that employee their job depending on the boss’s response. Or for a lot of teenage kids living the christian life in this generation, God could do something as simple as call a teenager to a higher standard in the way they live their life. Society would say don’t go serve on mission, don’t gamble your job, don't give up the friends, the parties or the relationships your flesh desires and live to that higher standard. But guess what, if God commands you to do it, you must obey. God will carry you through. Sure, doing the things contrary to society won’t exactly be easy but God never said our christian walk would be easy. In fact, He promises we will encounter trials to grow our faith but He will always carry us through. Those trials may be doing things contrary to this world but God will never leave us in those times. 

I loved this line by Augustine, “Just as among the authorities in human society a superior authority has a greater power to command obedience than an inferior officer, so God is supreme over all.” God is all powerful. The God we serve has power over everything. He can never be defeated. Let me say that again, the God we serve, the one living in our hearts, will NEVER be defeated. So when God commands us to things that are considered different in this world or are considered against the normal and we begin to fear that unknown, God’s got us. Augustine says, “If it has fallen into disuse, it must be restored. If it has not been established, it must be established.” God may command us to restore a thought that hasn’t been used in generations. There may also be things that God wants to do but no one has ever had the courage to act upon them. God has a plan. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us of that truth. Trust the process. If you feel God calling you to something unknown to this world and different, trust the work He is trying to do in your life. God has a plan for each of our lives and the plan He has for your life may be commanding you to do something contrary to anyone else. Rejoice in that. Press into God and He will carry you through and get the glory through it! 

-Anna Grace Gay

P.S. I commented on Sydney's and Zane’s post.