Doing What Doesn't Come Naturally

Obedience doesn’t get much good press these days. Apart from The Dog Whisperer on BBC Entertainment, most films and books celebrate disobedience and eulogise those that break the rules. Admittedly, those that set the rules are often portrayed as draconian, inept or bad. But why is it that those who break the rules are almost always cast as the “goodies” and those in authority are usually the “baddies”? I’m beginning to think that our generation has a problem with submission to authority. And part of the reason why I suspect this is that I feel uncomfortable having raised the issue!

In fact, I see signs of discomfort wherever I look. For example, many parents struggle to require obedience from their children. Why is that? Is there something wrong or illegitimate with being in authority over someone else? But not only are people uncomfortable with being in authority, they battle to accept authority too. Woe betide the school that punishes a child in such a way as to inconvenience his mother! I have been told of parents that refuse to allow their children to do community service for a legitimate infringement of school rules because it simply doesn’t fit with their lift run.

Even the church has found a way to make obedience seem unfashionable by branding it as legalism. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating obedience to a set of rules for the sake of earning one’s salvation or to make one person feel superior to another, which is the true definition of legalism. But what I am advocating is the fruit of salvation. Salvation is by faith, but its fruit is obedience. Disobedience goes with the old person, obedience with the new. Paul devotes an entire section to this subject in his letter to the Romans (Chapter 6). And the Apostle John says: “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands” (1 John 2:3). In fact, even Jesus was in submission to authority and said, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38).

Last week, we reflected on the similarities between rain and God’s word (Isaiah 55). The purpose of rain is to bring abundant life to the earth, and it doesn’t return to the clouds without having achieved that purpose. In the same way, the Word of God is the life-blood of our relationship with Him, always facilitating God’s purposes for our lives. But the Word will only have its effect on us if we listen and obey.

So may 2011 be a year when you saturate yourself in the reading and study of God’s word. Obey what you learn. And do not forget that Jesus was God’s Word in the flesh. You have the Spirit of Jesus in you today – listen to Him; obey Him.  Pray to Jesus every day: “Lord, I want you to be my teacher today – I am ready to obey; may your kingdom come; not my will but yours be done”. Then whether you are reading the Bible, or praying, or driving, or working, Jesus – the Word of God – will be teaching you, making you fruitful and working God’s purposes for your life.

Cheers for now - Ian