Called To Obey

 John 14:21

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

Dr. Charles Stanley invented one of my favorite quotes and one I constantly remind myself of, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”  Obedience to God runs all through the Bible.  From the very beginning to the very end, obedience is supposed to be one of the hallmarks of a child of God.  Obedience to God is not a hindrance though.  Instead, obedience to God actually gives the child of God liberty and protects the child of God from danger.  2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”   

A number of people will look at the commandments of God as an overbearing set of rules that may damper what they would like to do with their lives.  However, when we really look at the commandments, we find out that they are ethical rules that will help us to live an abundant life.  It’s when we go against the commandments of God that we find out that our life becomes more complicated and a lot tougher.  Think of the heartache that has been caused because of people who won’t follow the commandment of not being in an adulterous relationship.  Look at even the tenth commandment of not coveting.  Coveting becomes the root of so much sin and heartache today.  Even when we bring all the commandments down to what Jesus said, To love God with all our heart, soul, and strength and to love our neighbor as yourself, we realize if we follow these commandments life would be so much easier.  

One of the main thoughts of some young Christians in today’s society is that they believe because of God’s amazing and total grace that it gives us a license to sin, so the fear of the consequence of sin lessens.  However Paul warned us against this in Romans 6:1-14.  Paul actually says that just because of God’s ultimate grace, it does not give us the license to sin.  In fact it gives us the opposite.  Due to the amazing grace of God and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we are bound into obedience unto Him and no longer to sin.

So, knowing this fact, why do we still struggle with obedience?  Mainly because of the battle of the flesh.  Each and every day we face temptations and we must understand that.  However, God does not allow us to enter temptation that we cannot overcome.  We must simply take everyone of our thoughts and actions in captivity to the obedience of Christ.  

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

We must have faith and trust in God that He will give us the strength to do all things in obedience to Him.  Obedience to Christ is not a hard thing if we place our faith and trust in Him.  

We have a tendency at times to forget the basic meaning behind Dr. Stanley’s quote as well.  Even though Christ forgives us of our sin and has delivered us from death into life, there are still consequences to sin.  If you lie to a loved one, you are going to hurt their feelings, if you steal, you’re going to have to pay the price.  We are rescued from the penalty of death, however, we are never immune from the consequences of sin.

Remember that as a Christian, we are called to live a holy life.  That means a separated life.  We are meant to live by the guidelines of what God tells us in His Holy Word.  In closing, let’s remember the words of Peter.

1 Peter 1:13-16

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”