Obedience

Phil 2:8 – And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 1 Sam 15:22-23 – “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”Lets look at the different kinds of obedience found in the bible.Different kinds of Obedience in the word

 1. Good Intentions to Obey.  >> Parable of the two Sons 

Matt 21:28 -28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.”. Some one said Pathway to Hell is paved with good intentions.Many Chritians want to preach the gospel, give to the work of God, help the poor but most of those intentions are not translated into action. Remember good Intention to obey is still disobedience.

2. Obedience with wrong motives. >> Parable of the Pharisee and the Sinner.

Luke 18:10-15 -“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity–greedy, dishonest, adulterous–or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Here is a Pharisee who was fasting, praying, giving and holy according to the law.He was obedient but had wrong motives and intentions.God sees what’s in our hearts. God doesn’t want us to give or pray or fast to show off before others. Our obedience must be pure and from the heart.

3. Delayed Obedience                 >> The young man whom Jesus called said “Let me first go and bury my father”.

Matt 8:21-  Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Delayed obedience is still disobedience.

4. Partial or Selective Obedience. >> King Saul who went to plunder the Amalekites. (1 Sam 15)

You can’t Cheery pick what you want to obey. Filter out what you don’t like.God doesn’t run his kingdom like a buffet where you can look and select the things you like to eat.

5. Conditional Obedience.         >> Jacob making a deal with God. (Reward based obedience.) 

 Gen 28:20-22 -Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” You cannot put an “IF” before obedience. You never place a condition to the command of a king.

6. Obedience with bad attitude.    >> Jonah preaching to Nineveh

Jonah preached the gospel to Nineveh after the whole episode with the whale swallowing him etc. He had such a bad attitude after preaching that he set up tent outside Nineveh waiting to see God destroy it. If there was anyone in the bible who obeyed kicking and screaming all the way it was Jonah.

7. Complete Obedience >> Phil 2:8 – Jesus was obedient to the point of Death

But the Best example of obedience we all need to follow is the example of Jesus who was obedient to the point of death. This is the type of obedience that God is pleased with. Regards,Biju