Want to listen to this post instead of reading? Play the audio recording below.
Philippians 2:8 (NKJV) states: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
The above scripture lays bare how obedient Jesus was. It says that Jesus “became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Reading this, we should pause to consider what obedience looks like in our lives as believers. For example, is obedience something we willingly do because we love God? Or is obedience more about having to give up what we really want to do, or what really makes us happy, to do something we “have” to do?
It is true that obedience is about following the commands and instructions of authority. And it is also true that obedience involves being submitted to someone in authority. But we must know that our obedience to God must flow out of our love for God. Love for God and obedience to God go together. We need look no further than to Jesus to see obedience and love in action.
In John 14:31 (NKJV) Jesus said: But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
Obedience to God is not something we should see as burdensome. Instead, our obedience to God should reflect a heart that genuinely wants to honor God. A heart that genuinely wants to glorify God. A heart that loves God wholeheartedly. All of these are what the Scripture reveals about Jesus and His obedience and love for God.
As believers, we must know that it is one thing to say that we are obedient to God. It is another to actually obey God.
In Luke 6:46 (NKJV) Jesus said: But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? From this verse, we know that professing or declaring that Jesus is Lord of our lives requires that we do what He says. It requires that we be obedient.
Jesus lived in perfect obedience to God. Jesus did everything the Father asked Him to do, even dying on the cross. As believers, we too must be obedient.
Let us love God, not just in words, but with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind.
Let us love God and obey Him, no matter the cost.
And let our obedience to God flow out of our love for God.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domains.
