A tongue-in-cheek list of medical terms making the rounds includes the following definitions:

Artery: the study of paintings
Vein: conceited
Varicose: nearby
Dilate: to live long
Bacteria: back door of a cafeteria
Node: was aware of

The person who wrote that humorous list used the same vocabulary as a physician but certainly not the same dictionary!

In my daily walk with God, I’m becoming painfully aware of how often I use my own definitions instead of His. For instance, is my understanding of obedience the same as His? Do I carry out God’s commands as given, or do I modify His Word to suit my preferences?

King Saul blatantly disobeyed God’s instructions, then told Samuel the priest, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord” (1 Sam. 15:13). When Samuel challenged him, Saul declared his innocence (v.20). God saw it differently and removed Saul from the throne of Israel because of his willful disobedience (v.23).

When I identify myself as a citizen of God’s kingdom, I must follow His definitions without tailoring them to suit my own ideas. That’s obedience. —DCM


Let your days be Mine to order;
Where I lead, obedient be.
Let your own desires be nothing;
Only seek to follow Me. —Anon.

True obedience is on God's terms, not ours.