My grandson, Thomas, is just beginning to walk independently. He confidently lets go and cruises the room or the yard until he looses his balance, encounters an obstacle, or realizes his momma or daddy are too far away. He plunks down on his bottom and crawls until he reaches a familiar pair of legs. He pulls up and raises his arms, wanting to be picked up, but if you extend a hand, he’ll grab on tight and begin to walk again.
He already knows where he wants to go and he’ll often toddle ahead, pulling you along. If the ground becomes uneven or unsafe, it’s a good idea to slow down so he doesn’t fall or stop altogether. Part of loving him is teaching him boundaries. I would never walk with him into danger. He asserts himself regularly, but what sort of parent would I be if I did not attempt to guide and protect him?
We each learn obedience at the hand of imperfect human parents, but regardless of our upbringing, God the Father stands ready to take our hand and walk every step with us into eternity. He proved it when Jesus came to earth, taking on human flesh to reconcile us to God.
“While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God.
Because he honored God, God answered him.
Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do.
Then, having arrived at the full stature of his maturity and having been announced by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him.”
Hebrews 5:7-10 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/heb.5.7-10.MSG
The Bible is full of stories of imperfect humans who obeyed God to the letter, even under difficult circumstances, because God‘s Spirit was upon them.
Noah was tasked with building a boat, the first and only of its kind, in the middle of the desert, while preaching the world’s longest sermon calling for repentance.
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”
Genesis 6:22 NIV
https://genesis.bible/genesis-6-22
Moses was an octogenarian when he encountered the Lord at the burning bush, and though he made every excuse under the sun, ultimately he obeyed God boldly and consistently for many years, and God was present with him in a very tangible way.
“Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him.”
Exodus 40:16 NIV
https://exodus.bible/exodus-40-16
“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.”
Exodus 34:29 NIV
https://exodus.bible/exodus-34-29
“As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses.
Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
Exodus 33:9-11 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/exo.33.9-11.NIV
David, baby boy of the family, shepherd boy turned king, became the gold standard for the kings of Israel and was called a man after God’s own heart by God Himself. (I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) He was far from perfect, but God knew his heart. Only a few kings received this commendation.
“He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.”
2 Kings 18:3 NIV
https://2kings.bible/2-kings-18-3
Joseph, earthly father of Jesus and once reluctant husband to Mary, was quick to obey the Lord. He was a man of dreams who acted immediately and obediently.
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”
Matthew 1:24 NIV
https://matthew.bible/matthew-1-24
“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.
Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,”
Matthew 2:13-14 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.2.13-14.NIV
“After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.”
Matthew 2:19-21 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.2.19-21.NIV
Our only perfect example of obedience was God in human flesh. This example of ultimate obedience came when Jesus showed the extent of His love
on a cross. The scriptures record prophecies dating back hundred of years and stories foreshadowing Christ from the beginning of recorded time. Jesus fulfills each one to the letter. Only the perfect Son could become the sacrifice required to reconcile humanity to God. This was as much Divine choice as the act of creation. (Genesis 1:26)
“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:6-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.6-8.NLT
When the mob came to arrest Him in the garden and his followers resisted, Jesus answered them this way.
“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?””
Matthew 26:53-54 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.26.53-54.NIV
“Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).”
John 19:17 NIV
“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”
With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:28-30 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.19.28-30.NIV
“Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
Luke 23:46 NIV
God is, was, and always will be, in the details. He is a God of order, not happenstance. There is no such thing as coincidence in all of His creation. He is still as present and active today as He was in Bible times; more so according to Jesus. (John 14:12)
“This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived.
He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back.
He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right.
He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way.
His wounds became your healing.
You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going.
Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.”
1 Peter 2:21-25 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/1pe.2.21-25.MSG
God’s Spirit is alive in every person who believes in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.
Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
Galatians 5:16, 25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.5.16-25.NLT
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Philippians 2:13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.13.NLT
“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said,
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.
But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Is anything worth more than your soul?”
Mark 8:34-37 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.8.34-37.NLT
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