Small Choices That Keep You Stuck
Small Choices That Keep You Stuck
How many of you genuinely want to do what’s right? Raise your hand or type in the comments: “I want to do what’s right.” You want to obey God.
I wish I could say I always want to do the right thing, but the truth is, sometimes I don’t. Let me be completely honest.
The other day, I was in a hurry at the grocery store—I’m always in a hurry. I spotted the express checkout line, which was limited to 10 items. I counted mine—I had 12. But then I thought, “12 is close to 10, right? 12 is a spiritual number. Jesus had 12 disciples. Surely, 12 should be allowed in the express lane!”
So, what did I do? You guessed it. I quietly slipped into the express line with my 12 items.
That’s when I heard a soft, kind voice behind me:
“Pastor… is 12 the new 10?”
I turned around, and there she was—a sweet lady wearing a Life Church t-shirt. I panicked. My mind raced: Should I hand her two items to make it right? Should I fake an accent and run out the door? What do I do?
I just froze. I didn’t say a word. But she smiled and said,
“Pastor, why don’t you give me your two avocados, and we’ll pretend this never happened?”
Now, is this story 100% true? Let’s just say most of it is! But one thing is for sure—I got caught, and it made me think.
How often do we do this with God? We know what He wants from us, and we obey… partially. We tell ourselves, “I’m doing pretty well, and it’s just one small thing. I’m only human. God will understand.”
But does partial obedience really count as obedience?
The Danger of Being “Christianish”
We’re in a message series called Christianish—a term that describes a half-hearted faith. It’s when someone claims to follow Jesus but doesn’t fully commit. It’s being almost Christian, but not quite.
One of the biggest signs of being Christianish? Selective obedience.
We all do it. We follow God’s commands—unless they feel inconvenient, difficult, or don’t fit our plans. We obey… when it suits us.
But here’s the truth:
What the Bible Says About Full Obedience
Let’s look at three powerful Bible verses about obedience.
Deuteronomy 5:33
“Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper.”
Exodus 19:5
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then you will be my treasured possession.”
Job 36:11
“If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed.”
Do you see a pattern? Two key things stand out:
- God asks for full obedience—not partial, not selective.
- Obedience leads to blessings—God rewards those who walk in His ways completely.
So, here’s the challenge: Are you truly following God, or are you simply being Christianish? Let’s commit today to full obedience—because anything less is not obedience at all.
Type “Obedience” in the comments if you’re ready to surrender fully to God!
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