WHAT ROLE DOES OBEDIENCE PLAY IN A MATURE CHRISTIAN'S LIFE?
THOSE WHO KNOW THE GREATNESS AND THE GOODNESS OF GOD-AND THOSE WHO SEEK IDENTIFY FULLY WITH CHRIST'S LIFE-HAVE A GREAT PASSION TO OBEY GOD.
OBEDIENCE IS ACTIVE, NOT PASSIVE. IT IS A JOYFUL ''LIVING OUT'' OF WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE, RIGHT, AND GOOD. IT IS TO FOLLOW THE LORD DAILY, SAYING OR DOING WHAT JESUS WOULD DO IF HE WAS IN OUR PLACE. OBEDIENCE IS TOTAL SUBMMISION TO WHAT GOD DESIRES.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER PLACES HIGH VALUE ON OBEDIENCE. HE PREFERS IT EVEN TO SACRIFICE, OR THE OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF WORSHIP ( 1 SAM. 15:22 ) IN FACT, OUR OBEDIENCE IS THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF WORSHIP AND SERVICE ( PROV. 21:3).
A MATURE CHRISTIAN EXPRESSES A PASSIO TO OBEY GOD IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS:
1: A HUNGER TO KNOW THE BIBLE. TO KNOW WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US, WE MUST KNOW WHAT HE HAS COMMANDED. GOD'S COMMANDMENTS HAVE NOT CHANGED THOUGH THE AGES, NOR HAVE THEY BEEN ALTERED ACCORDING TO CULTURE, GOD'S WORD IS ABSOLUTE AND ENDURING ( SEE JOSH. 24:24; PS. 119:15,16,105,106;143:10 ).
2: A PASSION TO LIVE IN RIGHTEOUNESS. VERY SIMPLY, LIVING IN RIGHTEONESS IS DOING WHAT IS "RIGHT" BEFORE THE LORD. IT IS GLADLY KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS AND STATUES. IT IS TURNING WAY FROM SIN AND TOWARD WHAT IS HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD ( SEE ROM. 2:7- 10; PS.97:10-12: HEB. 12:1,2; PROV. 11:30;12: 12,13.
3: A PASSION TO RECEIVE DAILY DIRECTION FROM THE LORD. TO HAV E A HEART OBEDIENCE IS TO HAVE A DEEP DESIRE TO RECEIVE DAILY DIRECTION FOM THE HOLY SPIRIT. TO OBEY IS TO "WALK IN HIS WAYS," step by step-trusting god is leading you and that he he will correct you dhould you make an error. we must obsesrve what god is doing around us daily ask him, 'WHAT IS MY ROLE?" (SEE PS. 25:4,5; 141:3,4,8-10; JER. 42:1-6)
ULTAMETLY, THESE THREE DESIRES WORK TOGOTHER. THE MORE WE EXPLORE GOD'S WORD, THE GREATER OUR UNDERSTANDING OF RIGHTOUSNESS AND HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS IN US. MORE WE TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE MORE HE REMINDS US OF GODS WORD AND LEADS US TO RIGHTOUSNESS. THE MORE WE DESIRE TO BE "RIGHT" BEFORE THE FATHER, THE MORE WE WILL WANT TO READ HIS WORD AND LISTEN TO HIS VOICE.