The way we attend to things not only affects the object in question – a coffee mug as a paper weight; a letter opener as a weapon – but even more so our disposition toward it. Christmas is a great example of this. If our attention is on the labor of shopping and wrapping, Christmas becomes a chore laden exercise we hope will be over soon. On the other hand, if we look to the beauty and wonder of Christmas, even the shopping and wrapping can be a joyous experience (just ask my wife).
So, what about obedience? Can we experience obedience, like Christmas, as a gift, an opportunity, and a wonder? Let’s give some renewed attention to those questions, one at a time.
Obedience as a Gift
God offered the first humans the gift of relationship with Him, their Creator. Understandably, the relationship was based on the created ones taking direction from their Creator. It was for their good; but they were not forced. God made obedience an option, so that the relationship would be genuinely grounded in love.
Regrettably, the rebellion and subsequent disobedience infused the spirit of rebellion into the human race. Born with a nature that longs for self-determination, we refuse obedience to all but those who can force it on us or convince us it is in our best interest. We are not born with a disposition toward obedience.
Jesus Christ became a son of man for many reasons. One of the more significant was to show us what a son of man is capable of when he becomes a son of God. He showed us that perfect obedience was possible.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38
Jesus’ obedient death, burial, and resurrection then made it possible to live such a life.
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
God the Father has given us, through the life of His Son, the gift of an obedient life.
Obedience as an Opportunity
A beloved pastor, Scott Mitchell, had much to say that impacted my life, but the one thing that stands above the rest is this short prayer, “Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, I love You; help me love You more.”
When I heard that prayer for the first time, the desire to love Them more stirred powerfully in my heart; and it continues to do so every time the thought of it comes into my mind. I suspect the same is true for every Christian – to love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.
So, how do we do that? Jesus made it clear: Obedience is His love language.
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. John 14:21a
Our obedience is the expression of our love for Jesus Christ. Every command is an opportunity to love Him more.
Obedience as a Wonder
Much like Christmas, obedience observed and practiced with the right attention becomes a wonder and a joy. But what do we mean by wonder? Here’s a couple of applicable definitions:
Merriam Webster (n.d.): Rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one’s experience.
Collins Dictionary (n.d.): A feeling of great surprise and pleasure that you have, for example when you see something that is very beautiful, or when something happens that you thought was impossible.
Wonder is our response to something we observe and/or experience beyond the norm (e.g., an unusually beautiful sunset) or beyond the natural (e.g., the presence of God). Wonder is the expression of our attention toward the supernatural realm. This is what we mean by the wonder of obedience, for obedience affords a number of supernatural realities. Let’s begin with remainder of John 14:21.
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest [reveal] Myself to him.
Obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ results in our being loved by His Father, His love for us, and the revelation of Himself to us. Now, stop for a moment and let the wonder of the gift and opportunity of obedience to sink in. Wait for it. Wait for it.
Okay, here’s another:
If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17
The promise of the Holy Spirit is activated by our obedience. God has given us the gift and opportunity of obedience so that He might then give us “another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” Even our ability to know the truth of God kingdom is gifted to us through our obedience! Again, wait for the wonder of it. Wait for it.
And now, one last wonder:
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” John 14:23
The presence and grace of our relationship with the Father and the Son are empowered by our love for Jesus through the gift and opportunity to obey His commands. If we obey, He sends the Holy Spirit. If we obey, He and the Father will make their abode with us.
So much more has been written about the wonder of obedience. Take the Parable of the Vine and Branches for example. Without the abiding presence of Jesus Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5). But if we abide, we may ask what we desire, and it will be done for us; and by this the Father is glorified and we will be Jesus’ disciples (vv. 7-8). All this from the gift and opportunity to love through obedience. The wonder of it is beyond description; it is exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we can ask or think!
The Gift, the Opportunity, and the Wonder of Christmas
A note from the pen (that’s me): When we began this article, I had no idea the Holy Spirit would pull it together in this way. I just have to say it is a joy to be surprised.
Christmas is a wonderful time to experience the gift, opportunity, and wonder of obedience. Consider the command Jesus emphasized in His words on the subject.
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:11-12
For those (like me) who struggle to express the fullness of God’s love, John has encouraged:
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 1John 4:12
You see, we do not have to perfect our love. His love is perfected in us, if we will simply love one another. In so doing, we love with the fullness of His love, and we express our love to Him in our obedience.
God bless you with grace and opportunity to experience the gift and wonder of loving obedience this Christmas. Lead with love, look for love, and let love reign.
Merry Christmas,
Rob
#iamjustthepen
Collins Dictionary. (n.d.). Wonder. In Collinsdictionary.com dictionary. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/wonder.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Wonder. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wonder.