Experience Obedience
is for Obedience
1. The state or quality of being obedient
2. Submission, subservience, deference,
yielding, compliant
yielding, compliant
Our four young children raced for the back door. My voice trailed after them in vain, “Don’tslam the door,” as the slam reverberated through the house. Then I would mutter, “OK, slam the door, but
mind me!” Now I wonder about my need to
not hear the door slam versus enjoying the exuberance and energy of our
children. A professor once told our
class that we should pick our battles with students. What is important, I ask myself often?
As time goes by, the essence of obedience contains
some side areas in our hearts. One of
the most important is humility.
Obedience is placing someone’s desires before ours. The arrogant or haughty individual has no
quality of humility available to him.
some side areas in our hearts. One of
the most important is humility.
Obedience is placing someone’s desires before ours. The arrogant or haughty individual has no
quality of humility available to him.
Blind obedience is similar to rote obedience. Blind obedience is a ritual, an obedience
that is done without thinking. It is
just something that is accepted to do. Obeying
and never understanding why.
that is done without thinking. It is
just something that is accepted to do. Obeying
and never understanding why.
Are there different motivations for obedience? In the work setting, obedience happens
because of the fear of losing a job.
Survival can cause us to acquiesce to someone’s demands. Our innate desire is to be valued. This may
cause us to disobey or rebel, or it can cause us to try to shock others into
noticing us by our words or actions.
because of the fear of losing a job.
Survival can cause us to acquiesce to someone’s demands. Our innate desire is to be valued. This may
cause us to disobey or rebel, or it can cause us to try to shock others into
noticing us by our words or actions.
Then there are the wedding vows where ‘cherish’ has
replaced ‘obey’. Why? Is it the fear of being less that we want to
be? Understanding the joy of obedience
takes a mature person. One who
understands the true nature of obedience and the purpose that Jesus has given
us, to have a servant-heart. It takes a
stronger person to serve others than to demand their rights through life.
replaced ‘obey’. Why? Is it the fear of being less that we want to
be? Understanding the joy of obedience
takes a mature person. One who
understands the true nature of obedience and the purpose that Jesus has given
us, to have a servant-heart. It takes a
stronger person to serve others than to demand their rights through life.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit
yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as
Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as
the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in
everything. Ephesians 5:21-24
yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as
Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as
the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in
everything. Ephesians 5:21-24
In this scripture we submit to each other, wives to
husbands, husbands as head of the wife as Christ is head of the church, and the
church to Christ. There is a pattern of submission. One submission leads to
another. Submission is an adventure and
a challenge in accepting what is. And
where do children fit in? They are not
forgotten. Children, obey your parents
in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the
first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you
may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Ephesians 6:1-3
husbands, husbands as head of the wife as Christ is head of the church, and the
church to Christ. There is a pattern of submission. One submission leads to
another. Submission is an adventure and
a challenge in accepting what is. And
where do children fit in? They are not
forgotten. Children, obey your parents
in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the
first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you
may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Ephesians 6:1-3
Jesus knelt in prayer in the Garden prior to his
crucifixion for our sins. What did He
pray? John 17 reveals the heart of a Son whose allegiance is in His
Father. His coming to earth had a
purpose. His coming to earth was motivated by love, the love that makes a
servant-heart ‘beat’ ever more strongly.
“Righteous Father, though the
world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will
continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in
them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17: 25-26
crucifixion for our sins. What did He
pray? John 17 reveals the heart of a Son whose allegiance is in His
Father. His coming to earth had a
purpose. His coming to earth was motivated by love, the love that makes a
servant-heart ‘beat’ ever more strongly.
“Righteous Father, though the
world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will
continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in
them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17: 25-26
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the
earth and all that is in it. Obedience
is inherent in the creation. Everything
follows a rhythm and a path that is part of the creation. Including us.
Imagine what would happen if the trees rebelled at losing their leaves in
the winter, refusing to let go of their finery?
What would happen if tomatoes had a contest as to who could grow the
biggest? What if gravity let go just to
see what would happen? What if the
clouds went on strike and stayed put over their favorite part of the
earth? What if the cows refused to give
milk and the chickens went on an egg-cracking spree? We expect these parts of God’s creation to
obey their creator.
earth and all that is in it. Obedience
is inherent in the creation. Everything
follows a rhythm and a path that is part of the creation. Including us.
Imagine what would happen if the trees rebelled at losing their leaves in
the winter, refusing to let go of their finery?
What would happen if tomatoes had a contest as to who could grow the
biggest? What if gravity let go just to
see what would happen? What if the
clouds went on strike and stayed put over their favorite part of the
earth? What if the cows refused to give
milk and the chickens went on an egg-cracking spree? We expect these parts of God’s creation to
obey their creator.
The Bible has many stories of rebellion, hatred, anger
and chaotic behavior with resulting consequences. God has given us commands to live a peaceful
life, a life that brings us joy, if we obey. Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so
that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will
possess. Deuteronomy 5:33
and chaotic behavior with resulting consequences. God has given us commands to live a peaceful
life, a life that brings us joy, if we obey. Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so
that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will
possess. Deuteronomy 5:33
There are those who would erase God from their minds
and their world and become their own god. Their insatiable need for control and
power knows no end. Separation from God
and His laws leads to chaos in the world around them. Tim Keller – “Obeying God comes after Grace.”
Another saying is this, “Our
obedience is our gift to God.”
and their world and become their own god. Their insatiable need for control and
power knows no end. Separation from God
and His laws leads to chaos in the world around them. Tim Keller – “Obeying God comes after Grace.”
Another saying is this, “Our
obedience is our gift to God.”
• Hebrews 11:8 – By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would
later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know
where he was going.
later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know
where he was going.
• Isaiah 50:10 – Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his
servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name
of the LORD and rely on their God.
servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name
of the LORD and rely on their God.
• Psalm 119:34 – Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and
obey it with all my heart.
obey it with all my heart.
• Jeremiah 7:23 – but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be
your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you,
that it may go well with you.
your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you,
that it may go well with you.
• Ephesians 6:1-3 – Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is
right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a
promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on
the earth.”
right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a
promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on
the earth.”
• Colossians 3:22 – Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and
do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with
sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with
sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
• Hebrews 5:8-9 – Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he
suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation
for all who obey him
suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation
for all who obey him
• Romans 2:13 – For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous
in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared
righteous.
in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared
righteous.
Comments? eacombs@att.net