Romans 5:19 “For through the ones man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”
Hebrews 5:8 “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.”
Matthew 26:39 “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
I Peter 1:14 “As obedient children do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance.”
There is a scene in a movie that makes one chuckle because it presents a predicament that many of us have faced. Christmas lights have been carefully placed and checked for functionality, all is prepared and is ready for the big reveal. But when the moment comes and the connection is made, nothing happens. The comedic frustration builds in the character until the moment another member of the cast realizes that the power switch has not been turned on. There is a disconnection, and the electricity will not flow, and no lights will illuminate no matter how hard one wills it to be.
As Christians we desire to experience the power of God in our lives but often we find a disconnection between what we read in God’s Word and the experiences in our daily lives. Just like the character in the movie we expect the lights to come on, but they don’t. Wes Chadek shared one Sunday that one reason why we are here is our sanctification (i.e. our spiritual growth) and that it involves more than simply knowing certain facts, though that is important. What must happen is our obedience that comes from faith. We must put into action what we know and do what our Lord tells us. Yet often we look to our own strength, we consider ourselves to be self-sufficient, we go our own way and just like in the movie there is a disconnection and no power flows.
Obedience by definition is submission to another’s authority and Jesus is our great example of one who lived a life of obedience. It was to the Father’s authority that Jesus submitted when He emptied Himself and took on the form of a bond servant, being made in the likeness of men (Phil. 2:6). Jesus stated many times that He came not to do His own will but that of the Father. We even read that just before the cross, Jesus asked that the suffering He was about to endure could be taken away—yet His one desire was not to do His own will but that of God the Father. As a result of His obedience, we now have been made righteous and can come before a Holy God without fear of judgement! When Jesus obeyed His Father, the power flowed!
So it is with us, my responsibility as a child of God is to walk in obedience. I am not the captain of my ship, He is.
This is not a legalistic kind of obedience in order to garner favor with our Lord, but rather obedience that flows from a deep relationship with one who loved us so much He would die for us. It is based on trust and confidence in Him. Trust that He has only the best in mind for us, and confidence that what He started He will bring to completion. Paul said in Romans 8:31 & 32 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over fur us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” This is the truth that motivates our submission to God and to obey Him in all things. It is the only rational choice for the believer (Rom. 12:1). So if you desire to have the power of God in your life, walk as an obedient child. Even if you don’t understand or can’t see the end result, simply trust and obey for there is no other way….
Cornerstone Community Church 