The word “obedience” seems to be a verb that curbs ones freedom to do what they wish to do. The world is teaching us about free will and human rights which give human race the ultimate choice do to what they wish to do unless it affects others. To tell a young person to obey to certain rules seems to be curbing him of his individual rights. This phenomenon is vastly seen in many Churches especially when we deal with young people around us.
However, when I ponder about this matter I realized that obedience is a major theme of the Old Testament. All that the Lord demanded of the Israelites was obedience to His percepts. Nevertheless, it was a sad scenario when the Israelites kept on disobeying God’s rules despite His faithfulness to the nation and His repeated admonishing.
Last Sunday, I preached a sermon entitled ‘Obedience better than sacrifice’. I re-examined the life and the downfall of the very first King of Israel, Saul. One obvious reason for Saul’s downfall as a King was disobedience. He disobeyed God on two different situations. First, he did what he was not supposed to do (unlawful sacrifice – 1 Sam 13: 8-9) ; secondly, he failed to do what he was supposed to do (war against the Amalekites – 1 Sam 15:3-22) . In both this circumstances Saul disobeyed God’s command. The repercussion of his disobedience was severe; he lost the Kingdom once and for all.
In today’s context, we too in many circumstances chose to disobey God. Some may even think that obedience can be substituted with offerings and sacrifices. If we think so, let me tell you that we are terribly wrong. 1 Sam 15:22 tells us clearly that God is not interested in our sacrifices when there is no obedience to His Word. Our offerings and sacrifices (though big they may be) can never substitute obedience to God’s Word. We live in this world and are saved solely by God’s grace. We are not required of any task to attain salvation. In another word, we don’t need to work for our salvation. Salvation is a free gift of grace from God to human kind. However, all that is required of us is to trust in this gracious God and obey His commandments. I think the hymn writer has said it correctly, ‘Trust and obey for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.’
However, when I ponder about this matter I realized that obedience is a major theme of the Old Testament. All that the Lord demanded of the Israelites was obedience to His percepts. Nevertheless, it was a sad scenario when the Israelites kept on disobeying God’s rules despite His faithfulness to the nation and His repeated admonishing.
Last Sunday, I preached a sermon entitled ‘Obedience better than sacrifice’. I re-examined the life and the downfall of the very first King of Israel, Saul. One obvious reason for Saul’s downfall as a King was disobedience. He disobeyed God on two different situations. First, he did what he was not supposed to do (unlawful sacrifice – 1 Sam 13: 8-9) ; secondly, he failed to do what he was supposed to do (war against the Amalekites – 1 Sam 15:3-22) . In both this circumstances Saul disobeyed God’s command. The repercussion of his disobedience was severe; he lost the Kingdom once and for all.
In today’s context, we too in many circumstances chose to disobey God. Some may even think that obedience can be substituted with offerings and sacrifices. If we think so, let me tell you that we are terribly wrong. 1 Sam 15:22 tells us clearly that God is not interested in our sacrifices when there is no obedience to His Word. Our offerings and sacrifices (though big they may be) can never substitute obedience to God’s Word. We live in this world and are saved solely by God’s grace. We are not required of any task to attain salvation. In another word, we don’t need to work for our salvation. Salvation is a free gift of grace from God to human kind. However, all that is required of us is to trust in this gracious God and obey His commandments. I think the hymn writer has said it correctly, ‘Trust and obey for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.’
posted by Rev. Silvester L.M. David at 10:18 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home