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Obedience: What happens in a home when there is direct disobedience by a child? If the disobedience is not dealt with in a firm and fair way, chaos may break out in the home. It is much the same in the family of God. Obedience to the Word of God makes the relationship work, and consequently, defiance is punished. The issue of obedience to God is a common thread found throughout Scripture. One of the clearest presentations of this truth is found in the Sermon on the Mount. in Matt. 7:21-27: 'But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.' Jesus illustrates the spiritual and sometime physical results of disobedience and obedience by telling this simple story. In fair weather, both houses look fine but when a storm hits, the foundation is revealed. The foundation of sand, which is disobedience, cannot withstand the onslaught of the storm and the house is lost. The foundation of rock, obedience, allows the house to stand in the midst of adversity. So what then, does it mean to walk in obedience to the Lord? It is critical for us to understand that we are not saved by obedience, but by grace. As we receive the saving grace of God through faith, the result in our lives will be obedience. Understanding God's amazing gift to us through Jesus causes gratitude and worship to well up within us, accompanied by a great desire to please Him in every way. We find ourselves longing to know His will for our lives and to live according to that will. The key to Christian obedience is not in striving to keep a long list of rules and regulations, but is instead, in a relationship. Jesus Himself described this relationship by calling Himself the Vine and His followers the branches, who are attached to the Vine. 'I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.' John 15:5-6: Therefore, our main job is to stay attached to Jesus. Obedience in the kingdom consists of drawing near to Jesus and walking with Him daily. The Christian life is the life of Jesus flowing through the believer. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Through Him, we can do all things! Obedience is intimacy with Him. As we draw near to Him, His life begins to reflect through us into a world that desperately needs Him. His character is seen in our lives. That's why the God who is love would say to us: 'My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.' John 15:12: We show love to one another, we demonstrate clearly that Jesus has come to dwell in us, and that we are walking in loving obedience to Him. Extracts from an article; by Dave Butts. |
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