| The Obedience of Christ
Obedience was an outstanding characteristic of our Lord Jesus Christ. He learned obedience through the things he experienced (Hebrews 5:8), and he always did what pleased his Father (John 8:29). His obedience qualified him the perfect sinless sacrifice.
He derived strength and sustenance from his obedience.
John 4:34:
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
He kept his heart and motives pure through obedience.
John 5:30:
I can of mine own self do nothing: us I hear I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
What a great example our Lord is of obedience to the Father and His will. As the perfect son, he obeyed his Father in all things. I Peter 1:14 also exhorts us to be obedient children. The impact of his obedience has transformed our lives and the extent of his obedience knew no boundaries.
Philippians 2:8:
Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death. even the death of the cross.
Had He been disobedient, as Adam was we would never have been saved. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Romans 5:19). Jesus was, indeed, always perfectly obedient to His Father's word, "leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (I Peter 2:21). Ephesians 5:1 commands us to be followers or imitators of God, as dear children. As God's children we should be like Him, following His ways.
II Corinthians 10:3-6:
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ is how we walk in the steps of our Lord. It is our responsibility to choose to obey God. This we do a thought at a time. We can't always tell where our thoughts come from. They may come from something we've read, seen, or heard, from the files of our memory, from our imagination, from the true God or from the god of this world.
Regardless of the origin of a thought, we must examine it in the light of God's Word which, like "a sharp two-edged sword... and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). That's why, the Psalmist says in Psalm 119:11, "Thy word I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." This word for sin means "missing the mark." It's missing the mark of God's will and God's purpose. Thus, even if we were to give in to a thought and act out that thought that is not in accordance with God's will, that is sin!
It's available for us to bring every thought to the obedience of Christ. There's sustenance in obedience. There's purity of heart and motive in obedience. There's fulfillment of purpose in knowing we are doing our Father's will. Victory and reward are only a thought away. Let's make obedience a priority and follow in the steps of our Lord Jesus Christ.
|
