The Effects of Obedience
"What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams." ~ 1 Samuel 15:22 (When Samuel was taking to the disobedient King Saul)
Count Nicolaus Ludwig Von Zinzendorf was born in present-day western Germany in 1700. He was the son of a high noble family, and his life was destined for much worldly greatness and wealth. In fact, at the young age of twenty-one, Nicolaus was named to the King’s judicial court.
However, less than a year later, Zinzendorf felt called by God to buy an estate and create a safe-haven for Christians persecuted by the Catholic Church. By the age of twenty-seven, Zinzendorf had completely left “public life” and focused all his time on ministering to those who sought refuge on his estate.
In 1731, after hearing the account of a converted slave from the West Indies, Nicolaus felt moved by God to send missionaries to the Americas. Zinzendorf’s powerful pleas caused men to head out in Christ’s name to make a difference not only in the Americas but also in Greenland, Lapland, Surinam, Africa's Guinea Coast, South Africa, Amsterdam's Jewish quarter, Algeria, Ceylon, Romania, and Constantinople.
By the time of Nicolaus’ death, he had sent out over 225 missionaries, while he himself had travelled to America, founded the city of Bethlehem, PA, and established present-day Moravian College.
Indeed, Zinzendorf’s life is a testimony to how making sacrifices for the Lord can literally change the course of history.
Likewise, if you wish to impact the world for Christ, you must understand that joining in God’s work may require major adjustments.
God has a great and awesome plan for your life. To experience it, however, you must follow through and obey.
Only through obedience can you be part of the solution. Only through obedience can the Lord make a mighty difference through you. And only through obedience can you become a world changer
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