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We are Called to Obedience

By Dr. Richard J. Krejcir
Obedience is the foundation of knowing God's will. Without obedience, nothing can happen. For us to be the friend of Jesus, He asks us to, "…lay down our life for His friends…" We must make a conscious decision to give ourselves to Christ. This is not a suicide clause, not at all! What it is about is a life filled with giving wonder and excitement. Yet, it goes against our natural way of thinking and this is where our will collides with God's will. And, we have the choice to obey or face difficulties. So, let us do it with cheerfulness and...
Obedience is the foundation of knowing God's will.

 

Without obedience, nothing can happen in our quest to know God or His will. For us to be the friend of Jesus, He asks us to, "…lay down our life for His friends…" (John 15:13-15). We must make a conscious decision to give ourselves to Christ. This is not a suicide clause, not at all! What it is about is a life filled with giving wonder and excitement. Yet, it goes against our natural way of thinking and this is where our will collides with God's will. And, we have the choice to obey or face difficulties. So, let us do it with cheerfulness and wonderment in our hearts.

The counterfeit to obedience is creating our own opportunities and the devotion and zeal to go with it. Like the raging euphoria that sporting events generate is a substitute to the devotion that we should have to our Lord. There is nothing wrong with sporting events, and nothing wrong with cheering for them, but why can't we do that for God? Enthusiasm paves a dangerous path when it refuses to learn and yield to God's glory.


Our nature is to do our own thing. Our society thrives on it. But, perhaps a better way is to sacrifice ourselves in devotion for God and not let other substitutions get in the way. The false devotions that get in the way (such as family, school, work and career) are sometimes good, and even necessary, but do not let their cause get in the way of your obedience to the Lord. Because if this is all you have (these other devotions), you end up having nothing.

So, let God work in you and have Him open your eyes to the fallacies to avoid, and embrace the wonders of His truth.


Obedience must permeate everything; and through this lesson my goal is to teach you just that. Obedience is the capstone to our stones of faith and life in Christ. God wants us first. So, how do you find God's will? By obeying Him, His commands, His grace, His love, His will and nothing else. Check out I Samuel 15:22 and John 7:17.

 

A sense of duty should rise from our obedience, as well as a sense of heroism. The Christian walk is not always on the mount of transfiguration, but in the valleys below. Where we shine is not recorded by our fellow people, but in heaven above. So our obedience is not based on human recognition, but on heavenly endowment.

When God touches us, our eyes are open to Him. Yet, remember the struggle of our sin nature. If we love Jesus with passion and conviction, then the outcome will be obvious. If we are determined to do something else, as we warm the pews with our rears, then our eyes become closed. The closure of our eyes is our choice and our choice alone; "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24. Will you allow your life to be rooted in the soil of Christ and what He has done so we can rise in maturity by complying and learning in His word?


In seeking God's Will I must know that it's not about you; it's about God. It's not what we do that makes us a Christian; it's what Jesus has done for us!


THOUGHTS ON OBEDIENCE


· Our natural selfish will must be sacrificed through discipline; this is hard but the rewards are plentiful!


· God will not make us obey; it must come out of our free will.


· Obedience does not get us right with God. It is what God has done for us; obedience is merely the response.


· It is easy to be a frantic devotee of a sporting event, but what does it take to be a devotee of Christ?


· Our obedience may cause difficulties that are not meant as a personal attack upon us. Rather they enable us to be better used by God. So, we can identify with a plight of others.


· We can disobey God out of our free will and He will give us His grace. What good would we be?


· Our confusion can only be solved by obedience!


· We are to bring every thought, concern, argument into the captivity of obedience because we are responsible (II Corinthians 10:5).


· Making the choice to martyr ourselves or undergo undue suffering is a very wrong move unless it comes from choosing God's will. God is in control!


· Perfect obedience is perfect trust. Discernment comes out of obedience!


When you are going through suffering, God knows and cares. He is there for you. Let your effort of focusing on the difficulties and uncertainties of life fall away. Why should we worry when the Creator of all things is in charge? In the midst of difficulties, it may appear God has abandoned you, but He has not. His love and grace remain the same!

· Matthew 11:28 states to let our rest be in Jesus, not unrest!


· Remember your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. So, live your life responsibly: I Corinthians 6:19.


· Perfect confidence in Christ is obedience.


· Knowledge and insight happen only by obedience, not just from our experience.


· If you do not understand something spiritual, it is usually because of a lack of obedience.


· We cannot pretend to comply. God will uncover our falseness.


 

Do not be an imitation Christian, our Lord does not need impostors (2 Cor. 5:20)!


 


© 1994, 2001 R.J. Krejcir http://www.intothyword.com/


Richard Joseph Krejcir, is the Director of 'Into Thy Word Ministries, 'a discipleing ministry. He is also a pastor, teacher, speaker is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena California and has amounted nearly 20 years of pastoral ministry experience mostly in youth ministry, including serving as a church growth consultant.

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