Joyful Obedience? Really?

For the last three weeks I've given this issue of obedience much thought. And, I am going to do something a bit different, I am going to start this blog with my conclusion this week. One other disclaimer, this post may seem a bit negative, but hold on, because there is a happy ending. 

First, I have concluded that we as Christians today really, really suck at following Christ. We say the right words, we do some of the right things. We read some of the right material. But we are not following Christ! We don't spend time with Him, yet we expect Him to bless us daily. We expect Christ to come to us, yet we are unwilling to go to Him.

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. (Psalm 86:3)

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. (Proverbs 8:33,34)

We think sin is just some sort of fairytale. We don't take seriously what it does to those around us. We have become so hard in our hearts on this very thought...I am forgiven, so what difference does it make for me to do this or think that! Our Relationship experience with God doesn't stop at the alter, it begins there. We are to continue in the walk with Jesus.  To continue in wanton sin as if we are fireproof...well it is denying any chance for God to work in us. TRAGIC!

We recognize that sin is a tough thing to kill and get rid of, so we don't try. This "defeatist" attitude is not of God. The biggest tragedy is we set a very poor example to those who don't know Christ. This very point may kill any chance for others to come to a saving knowledge of Christ!

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1,2)

And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.(Luke 9:23)

We tend to use our faith to control others or the situation we find ourselves in. We use scripture to prove others wrong, to argue religion. We abuse the scripture to form our intended message instead of God's message. This can harm so many in so many ways. Where is the love? We are not to use the beloved Word of God as a stick, but as a sword...to discern, defend and protect!

For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 

Husbands are not to "rule" over their wives, they are to love them as Christ loves the church! And, how did He love the church? to the point of sacrifice! We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that we should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:9).

We need to stop "playing church" and start living out the kingdom of Heaven that God is building in us. We are commanded to love each other, to be patient with one another, to be kind to one another. We are commanded to know the Word of God, and to live the life each moment as He has described in His book.

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ ( Philippians 1:9-10)
 
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile (1Peter 3:10)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:17-18)

Many years ago a pastor named Charles Sheldon wrote a book and shared it with his members. His entire premise was simple. He wrote these words...

"The greatest question in all of human life is summed up when we ask, 'What would Jesus do?', if as we ask it, we also try to answer it  from a growth in knowledge of Jesus Himself.  We must know Jesus before we can imitate Him."   
In His Steps Page 146-147

This book was mandatory reading for me in College, and I'm glad I read it. I just read it through again this week. It reminded me that obedience to Christ is more than a feeling during an invitation to accept Christ as my savior. Obedience is more than grudgingly cleaning our house, or doing the dishes, or giving a family member a ride, or picking up groceries from the store on the way home. It is more than accepting to be a greeter at church, or work in the nursery, or teach a bible study. Obedience is more than doing what you need to at work to punch the clock, or to vote on election day, or throwing money at a social need.

Obedience is more than just doing what you know you need to do. Obedience is an active word, to hear, and to act with heart and conviction. To be the warrior following your Captain, trusting Him to lead you into the battle and back out with victory. We need knowledge to properly obey (2Corintheans 10:5). We need faith to properly obey (Romans 16:26). We need love to properly obey (Deuteronomy 30:20)(Hebrews 6:10). We need conviction to properly obey. And, when we have these things, obedience is in fact a joyful thing. As we practice obedience, we realize that Christ is Lord, the Beginning and the End. He is the one that is worthy of our honor and praise and all the glory we can muster!

To be obedient means we love Christ so much for all He has done for us that we are afraid of letting Him down, that we reverence Him to the point of sacrifice of comfort, momentary pleasures and we don't act out of some form of duty as much as we act out of a thankful heart and a joyful spirit. If we truly meant it when we prayed "Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior" then why do we act as we do...or a better question, why don't we act as our Lord would expect us to?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:1-3

Is this just a suggestion? Are we to believe that this is just some sort of "pie in the sky" idealism that really can't be obtained? While discussing Matthew 5:48 with one of my students a couple of weeks ago, he raised this question. I told him that if we think of the verse "Be ye holy as your Father which is in Heaven is holy" as just a suggestion, then we have failed as Christians. 

This type of mentality of considering this commandment of Jesus to be a "suggestion" isn't what God expects of us. He expects us to act as one of His children, to be faithful to Him, to trust Him to complete the work He has started in us.

There will be times when we just go through the motions due to a lack of interest, or motivation. But those are the times that Christ carries us through the battle. Even in those times, which is done simply out of discipline, and maybe nothing else, we can experience victory, which will strengthen our faith, our resolve. 

These are the valleys we experience during our travels. But, if you find yourself in this valley for a long time, maybe it's time to re-evaluate your walk with Christ, seek guidance, start afresh your daily devotions, get involved with Church. And join a Bible study group outside of Sunday morning.

The Practical Application of Obedience:

We must seek Christ's leading in the Scriptures and prayer. This can no longer be a suggestion! This has to happen daily if not constantly. We cannot expect God to continue to bless and protect us when we are not willing to get to know how He would have us defend ourselves with His word and Spirit. We no longer have the luxury of "everyone else does it this way" mentality. God has given us specific marching orders. We either obey them or we don't.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. Romans 6:12,13

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.   Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Romans 8:14,15,37)

I'm going to make an open invitation. If any of you that read this blog don't know where to turn to get involved in a weekly Bible study, and you are interested in being a part of one, I can either help direct you to a Bible study, or we will start one ourselves.  There is no reason to not start to get to know our Lord and Savior right away.
 
There is so much more to this topic that I desire to share, but I must end it here for now. My prayer for you this week is to be full of God's loving Spirit. May God richly bless you this week. May you endure with joy, be obedient to Christ for He is very much faithful towards you.