Hebrews 5:9

Hebrews 5:9

The call to obedience

Perfect obedience is the key to perfect character! Most of us will have to hold our hands up and admit we are very far away from this kind of commitment to the cause; we are only too aware of our weaknesses and failings and of how far short of God’s standards we fall. Jesus might have been like us, He was human, He did have a choice about how He wanted to live out His time on earth. But He chose obedience, and in order to fulfil that choice to the ultimate degree, He also chose to allow His obedience to be tested to the very limits. The only way to achieve perfection was not by trying to be good, but by allowing every kind of trial and test to be thrown at Him and thus to prove that nothing could deflect Him from His commitment to obey the Father’s will. The ultimate tests were suffering and death. His suffering was not just the tip of the Roman soldier’s spear, or the jagged spikes of a crown of thorns, or even the lashes of the scourging whips. There was also a psychological and emotional price to pay, and worst of all, the agony of separation from God His Father. Jesus proved His perfection, never let there be any doubt about that.

Now comes the challenge for you and me! In His perfection Yeshua bought our eternal salvation, nothing less than a perfect sacrifice would do. If that singular offering was to stand for all time, it could not be polluted, spoiled and stained by sin of any kind, it must be an offering proved under the scrutiny of complete obedience. That is why the events that unfolded and the reactions of Jesus are so carefully recorded by the four Gospel writers. Even the most loyal of Jesus’ supporters failed miserably during His arrest, trial and crucifixion, but the Lord Himself passed each one of the tests that were set. And now. And now, He offers eternal salvation to those who would join Him on the road to complete obedience. As He learned obedience, if we are true to Him, then so shall we out of love and respect but also because we desire to be like Him. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24. The mature Christian walk is a journey of obedience if we are to be like our Master. 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psalm 106:13

Psalm 106:13 Do not forget We need to remember that Israel’s relationship with the Lord God was based on His laws and their obedience. It was possible for them to live lives that were highly blessed, that incorporated the provision of God in every tiny detail of their national and individual existence. God was prepared to give them everything they needed, He would provide food and water for them and their flocks. He would guide them on their journey. He would protect them from their enemies. He would inspire and direct their leaders. He would keep them from the heat of the sun and the terrors of the desert night. He would take them to the land that He had promised, in double quick time. There was no reason why they could not be in situ in just a few months. Everything they could possibly need was His to provide and He was willing to sacrifice anything to see them gratefully settled in Canaan.  There was just one snag, it all depended upon their obedience and faithfulness. God insis...
Read more
Psalm1:5       Our earthly journey will allow us, at times, to stand with the redeemed in holy awe and worship exhilarated by the presence of our Father.  In the Psalmists’ day these “assemblies of the righteous” would have been joyful times of worship at God’s sanctuary where music played, choirs sang and the people joined in the excitement and corporate wonder of being together in God’s presence. If our own church worship is anything, it should be a prelude to the time when we will join with a numberless throng and sing the praises of the Lamb and the One who sits upon the throne of heaven. Many go to events like Spring Harvest, Keswick Convention, New Day and the rest, primarily for this experience of joy and exhilaration.  Our earthly, joyful experiences are but a foretaste of what is to come and we are promised that we will join with heavenly choirs and our song will be “Worthy is the Lamb.”   Such music and exalta...
Read more

Psalm 119:83

Psalm 119:83 Wineskins in the smoke Well, this verse has caught us by surprise! What does it mean? As we will be aware, in ancient times, wine was not stored in purpose-made glass bottles but in animal skins. In order to keep the skin pliable and soft it must not be allowed to dry out for it would soon shrivel and crack. It follows that the last thing you would do with your treasured wineskins is to hang them up over a smoky fire, not only would they quickly wither but the smoke would clearly ruin the flavour and texture of the wine!  What does the author mean when he says that he is like such a wineskin?  It denotes the uncomfortable condition he was in or at least thought himself to be in; being caught in the midst of smoke is very uncomfortable, and he considered himself to be in darkness with sin and afflictions, like a wineskin in smoke, black and sooty. He felt like an empty wineskin with nothing in him. Maybe he was worn out with cares and old age and had become pale an...
Read more