This last week God has been speaking to me about obedience. It started a while back when we took a weekend away to the mountains and I was getting up early to meditate on some scripture. Hebrews 5:8 Even though he was the son he learned obedience through the things he suffered. If Christ only did what God showed him to do and only said what God told him to say, why then did he need to learn obedience? Does God place a premium on obedience even if you agree with Him.
Obedience is not a phrase we hear in Church anymore. The whole concept of obedience has fallen by the wayside. Independence is promoted and children are left at their own accord to make and do as they please. As parents we no longer model obedience the way we need too. If the parents speak up they are considered to be old school and to conservative. How did we come this far and how does this affect us bringing the kingdom to the world?
Let me start by laying a foundation for this concept of obedience. We will take a few weeks to look at this concept.
1. Agreement is greater than obedience:
I have always believed that agreement is greater than obedience. Matt 18:18-20 says that where two agree anything is possible. I believe God wants us to agree with him instead of just obeying him. This does not negate the fact that we also need to obey him. When I agree with Him my will aligns with his will and I shut the door on disobedience and rebellion. Many people agree with God but still walk in disobedience.
if you ask someone to do something they have a choice whether to obey or to rebel. They can do what you ask but might still not be wanting to do it from the heart. Thus obedience can be a fertile ground for rebellion. That is why I start with agreement before we talk about obedience.
What is agreement? If Rynette and I both agree to go to the movies, nobody is going against their will. If we disagree about going to the movies, it would always end with one getting his way and the other one submitting to the other person’s desire. So let’s say we go to the movies but all the while I wanted to go fishing. I submit and we do what she wants us to do. I can go to the movies with her but in my heart I am at the lake fishing. Though I am with her I can walk with disagreement or rebellion in my heart. If we both wanted to go to the movies, our agreement shuts the door on rebellion.
Agreement and obedience are paradoxical. These are two truths that are opposite of each other yet carries the same importance. I can live in complete agreement but not be in obedience. It is possible for me to agree with the Word but not live in obedience to it. I agree that we must love our enemies and pray for them, but when was the last time we have done that. When was the last time you walked the second mile or forgave seven times? We all agree with it but we are not doing it. This is really important to understand as agreement makes all things possible but you can still miss it because of disobedience you will lack the authority to walk it out.
We also have to look at authority. The one that has authority has the ability to demand or expect obedience. In our country the law is the authority and we are expected to obey the law.
God has all authority. He is the creator of authority and the delegator of authority. All of the universe and creation functions under that authority. Hebrews 1:1-2 says that He upholds all of creation by his word. With his ability to create by his words, everything that exists or ever will exist is by his design and plan and purpose. He can demand obedience to his Word but he would rather us agree with his Word first and allow Him to show us how to walk in obedience.
Next week we will look at the original sin and what rebellion looks like.
