The Offering of Obedience
by Trial Associate Pastor Diana Davis
I John 2:3-17 reveals that a life of obedience is one of love, truth, light, overcoming and separation from the things of the world. As we embrace the offering of obedience, we will experience the joy that Jesus intended us to have in our lives. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments,” I John 2:3. Looking at the definitions below will allow us to have knowledge accompanied by revelation.
Offering - to present for acceptance or rejection; something offered in worship/devotion; to give as a gift.
Obedience - compliance to authority; yielding; submission to authority; to hear; listen.
To summarize the above definitions, we could say an offering of obedience is our gift of worship to God and yielding to his authority. His sovereignty allows him to accept or reject our offerings; and it's dependent on our motives. Throughout the Bible, we are given examples of offerings prompted by obedience. For instance, Abraham, when offering his only son Isaac, made a statement that proved his love, obedience and worship of God. “And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you,” Genesis 22:5.
The account of the Apostles, found in Acts 5:29, states that even when faced with trouble from the Sanhedrin, "We ought to obey God rather than men." As we can see, there is an empowerment that comes with obedience. Our greatest example is that of Jesus in the finished work of the cross. He suffered great afflictions by the hands of men who rejected Him. He endured, however, so the will of His Father would be manifested on Earth, along with the completion of our adoption into the family of God. Romans 5:19 explains that by one man's obedience (Jesus) many were made righteous. “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Even though Jesus was the Son of God, He learned obedience through what He suffered. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered . . .” Hebrews 5:8.
When obedience is activated by faith, done in love with a sincere heart, the oneness that Jesus speaks of in John 17:21 will be evident in the lives of those who seek to give the offering of obedience. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou has sent me,” John 17:21. In receptivity, promptness (obeying quickly) and listening, we can enjoy a life of liberty in Christ Jesus.
COMING SOON
Alms
First Fruits
Freewill Offering