Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Our relationship with God is dependent upon our humble willingness to obey – obedience is man’s primary duty in his relationship with God. Lack of obedience caused man to be banished from the garden and God’s curse to fall upon all creation – it will remain our obedience to God’s Word and command that will bring us back into fellowship. Tragically we have allowed our obedience to be defined as simply acceptance of what Christ has done – all but ignoring the command to submit to Christ as Lord of our lives.
Christ’s redemption has provided man with the way to God – His Holy Spirit has been sent to provide the means. Man’s sins are forgiven and forgotten in the blood of Jesus Christ – but our will to obey remains influenced by our sin-nature. Our Savior has provided the promise – our Lord brings us into His presence. Applying our intellect to the problem is not the same as submitting our will to the solution.
Christ death was not simply to get us into heaven – it was to allow His heavenly presence to possess us. There is no surrender to Christ as Savior until there is willful choice to obey Christ as Lord. The Cross is not simply our benefit - it must become the symbol of our obligation. The Cross did not bring closure to the purpose of God it provided the only opportunity we have to experience the promise of God.
Read through the Bible in one year – Feb. 22 – Mk. 3:20-35; Num. 3-4
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