Compliance or Agreement?

Amos the prophet asked a series of rhetorical questions to illustrate inseparable links in ordinary life with an aim to show judgment was coming from God for their sin.  He asked in Amos 3:3-6, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? ⁴ Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing? ⁵ Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all? ⁶ If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?"  If two people were seen walking along the road together, onlookers would assume they were content to do so.  They may not agree on musical taste, political views, or theology but since they walked at the same pace and direction they were in agreement to walk together.  When a lion roared people would say, "Ah, sounds like the lion has caught his dinner."  A trumpet blown in the city would have an effect on the townsfolk.  These were obvious statement to prove the sins of the people would certainly bring the judgment of a righteous God.

How important it is for us to be in agreement with God!  This is what the phrase "getting right with God" suggests:  our conscience tells us we are in the wrong, we confess our sin and repent, and then we make a conscious choice to walk again in agreement with God and His Word.  If we are in agreement with God it follows our associations and relationships will be affected.  2 Corinthians 6:14-16 says, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."  Again, rhetorical questions were employed to emphasise there is no agreement with light and darkness, no association between the Temple of God and idols.  If we are living in agreement with God there must be a separation in our lives and what stands in opposition to God.

The LORD has opened my eyes to a truth which has always been there but I never saw until now:  agreement is more than compliance.  The law demands compliance, but God seeks agreement.  Outward compliance to the law is acceptable, yet God looks upon the heart, thoughts, and motives.  Agreement is suggested by the words Paul used:  being yoked together, fellowship, and communion.  As parents or leaders we can wrongly be content with people being compliant with our demands.  If God was satisfied with attempted compliance to Law, why did He send His Son?  He sent Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, to redeem us, to enable us to be born again by grace through faith so we could once again be in agreement with God physically, spiritually, and eternally.  It requires love and grace to seek agreement when we have the power and authority to demand compliance - or else.  If it is important to God for us to be in agreement with Him, then we ought to walk in agreement with other Christians.  When we see other believers walking in darkness, after we examine our hearts and repent of our sin we are to seek to restore our wandering brother in meekness.  Restoration is only possible when there is agreement of all parties with God, not by compliance to a rule.  This agreement and fellowship can only happen by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Is it possible you have been compliant with God, your spouse, or fellow brother rather than being in agreement?  A compliant person may even hold the hand of the person they walk with, but if their heart isn't in agreement they have no fellowship.  If we are satisfied with the compliance of others, this suggests we may be content to only be compliant with God instead of in full agreement (inside and out) with Him.  May our hearts, minds, and lives be found to be in agreement with God as we walk with Jesus.  Then we will move beyond compliance to law and discover more fully His refreshing grace and love.