A Desire To Obey
Though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
Romans 6:17
If I were to define the Christian life with one word, I would choose the word obedience. Obedience, power, blessing, and joy are four legs to the same chair; they are essential elements of the Christian life. Without obedience, there will be no power, blessing, or joy in our lives.
One key distinction between a true Christian and someone who merely professes to be a Christian is a heartfelt desire to obey God. For a Christian, obedience is a sweet, hopeful, and encouraging word. It ought to be a welcome expression of the deepest desire of your heart. If you are willing to obey God, and your desire to do so comes out of love not fear, that is a good indication that you are a true child of God.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 283). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Obedience sounds difficult and burdensome. The word conjures up images of hardship, fear, forced servitude. But in fact, as Christians, our obedience to Christ should be a hearfelt desire. It should be a welcome, encouraging word expressing our love for Christ and our longing to be in Him and to have Him in us. Obedience to Christ is not troublesome, "For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Mat 11:30). Though we were once slaves to sin (and obeyed sin), by now obeying God's word, we have been made "slaves to righteousness" (Rom 6:18). We have been freed from our slavery to sin, which leads to death.
Applications: Christ died for sins, once for all. He paid the penalty, so that we would not have to. We are united with Christ in His death and His ressurection, so we have been freed from slavery to sin (Rom 6:6-7). We should consider ourselves "dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom 6:11). We should regard our old sinful nature as dead. Because we are in Christ and Christ is in us, we are no longer obligated to seek out sinful cravings, lusts, and desires. Instead we should develop and cultivate a wholehearted desire to obey God and His teachings. If we love God, then we will obey Him (John 14:15).
Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would truly have put my old sinful nature to death. Pray that I would completely and wholeheartedly seek to obey God. Pray that I would be a willing servant of Christ, my Lord and Master, and no longer a slave to sin.
Listen to this entry
Romans 6:17
If I were to define the Christian life with one word, I would choose the word obedience. Obedience, power, blessing, and joy are four legs to the same chair; they are essential elements of the Christian life. Without obedience, there will be no power, blessing, or joy in our lives.
One key distinction between a true Christian and someone who merely professes to be a Christian is a heartfelt desire to obey God. For a Christian, obedience is a sweet, hopeful, and encouraging word. It ought to be a welcome expression of the deepest desire of your heart. If you are willing to obey God, and your desire to do so comes out of love not fear, that is a good indication that you are a true child of God.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 283). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Obedience sounds difficult and burdensome. The word conjures up images of hardship, fear, forced servitude. But in fact, as Christians, our obedience to Christ should be a hearfelt desire. It should be a welcome, encouraging word expressing our love for Christ and our longing to be in Him and to have Him in us. Obedience to Christ is not troublesome, "For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Mat 11:30). Though we were once slaves to sin (and obeyed sin), by now obeying God's word, we have been made "slaves to righteousness" (Rom 6:18). We have been freed from our slavery to sin, which leads to death.
Applications: Christ died for sins, once for all. He paid the penalty, so that we would not have to. We are united with Christ in His death and His ressurection, so we have been freed from slavery to sin (Rom 6:6-7). We should consider ourselves "dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom 6:11). We should regard our old sinful nature as dead. Because we are in Christ and Christ is in us, we are no longer obligated to seek out sinful cravings, lusts, and desires. Instead we should develop and cultivate a wholehearted desire to obey God and His teachings. If we love God, then we will obey Him (John 14:15).
Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would truly have put my old sinful nature to death. Pray that I would completely and wholeheartedly seek to obey God. Pray that I would be a willing servant of Christ, my Lord and Master, and no longer a slave to sin.
Listen to this entry
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