The 10 Second Rule

                               A little food for weekend thought:
     "If you love Me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15)
     Pretty straightforward stuff.  It's the follow-through that's tough... and sometimes a bit frightening.  But we all obey someone or something--our own selfish imposes, the pull and call of the world, the admiration of others... or the Lord who loves us.
     Rick Warren put it this way: "Everybody eventually surrenders to something or someone.  If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts, or ego."
      And so I've been challenged the past few days by the words of Clare De Graaf, author of The 10 Second Rule.  And here is the essence of the 10 second rule: "Just do the next thing you're reasonably certain Jesus wants you to do (and commit to it immediately--in the next 10 seconds--before you change your mind)."
     Sometimes this may mean something as simple as stopping your power walk, stooping down and picking up that piece of trash someone dropped on the greenway.  Sure, it's not your trash... but if somehow you sense this faint quick voice that tells you to stop and pick it up, don't ignore that still, small voice.  Just do it.  Silly perhaps, but God doesn't despise the small details of our lives.
     I admit it--I can be a master of justification for ignoring His voice.  No--it's so easy to think--we don't have time to do whatever that voice puts into our heads that we sense is God's will.  We're too busy, or too tired or too short-tempered or, frankly, too lazy.  But when He calls--His sometimes gentle, quiet voice speaking to us--will we listen and then obey... in those next 10 seconds?
     It may mean stopping the chores to go read with our child.  Setting aside our to-do list to write that note of encouragement to a struggling friend.  Giving away something we really want to clutch with both hands.  Forsaking the urgent for the important.
     And sometimes it costs us.  In fact, it almost always costs us--in time or money or convenience or perhaps even reputation.  But isn't that what taking up our cross and following Jesus is all about?
     The great Olympian runner, Eric Liddell once wrote: "Have you learned to hear God's voice saying, 'This is the way, walk ye in it?'  Have you learned to obey?  Do you realize the tremendous issues that may be at stake?"
     And later Liddell wrote: "If I know something to be true, am I prepared to follow it even though it is contrary to what I want?... Will I follow if it means being laughed at by friend or foe, of if it means personal financial loss or some kind of hardship?"
     Liddell knew whereof he spoke.  He's the one who relinquished his spot to run in the 100 meter run (his best event and he was the favorite for gold) at the 1924 Olympics, because one of the heats would be run on a sunday.   And Liddell stunned the world again when after winning gold in a different event (that was not one he normally excelled in), he relinquished his running career in order to become a missionary in China.  He would eventually die in a Japanese prisoner of war camp.  His obedience cost Liddell greatly... and it honored God mightily.
     I say all this to challenge us--beginning with yours truly--will we obey?  Just simple, immediate obedience... beginning with "the 10 second rule."  I'm asking God to enable me to start there--to obey even those simplest, smallest urges I believe He has placed before me.  And then watch what happens.
     To God be the glory.