Complete Obedience

 

We’re in Genesis chapter 17 this week and talking about Abraham’s complete obedience.

Though he had some weak moments in is his faith such as his trip to Egypt and his deception there, (Egypt usually representing the world or worldliness) and a particularly bad lapse:  his procreation through Sarah’s handmaiden (an Egyptian), Abraham is now completely obeying God.  God had promised BIG things to/through Abraham, but his spotty obedience created consequences that we can witness to this day.  It is vitally important that we obey God completely.

Complete obedience can be manifested and observed in a variety of ways.  This is not an exhaustive list but as few highlights.

First of all we need to obey God in His authority, but obey those earthly authorities appointed over us.  Not blind followers of any who would presume themselves leaders, but those rightly appointed especially those who have tended to our spiritual upbringing and nurture. Hebrews 13:7

Next, we need to plan to finish well.  We need to well consider what that means to our daily walk.  In the parable of the two sons, we see examples with a stark contrast. Matthew 21:28-32  The one son initially refuses, but ends up in obedience, while the other son gives lip service, but, in the end, is not obedient.  This second response, I’m afraid, is all too prevalent in our churches today.  We make a fine show of believing and obeying, but when we walk at those doors into our work-a-day world, obedience is more scarce than our “show” on Sunday would seem to promise.

Finally, we need to do the whole job.  When Jesus pronounced His “woes” upon the Scribes and Pharisees, He admonished them for seeing to the outer cleansing, but failing to complete inward cleansing.  Matthew 23:23-28  Of course there is much talk these days about God “looking on the heart” and not necessarily the outward man, but that, lately, is nearly universally grievously miscarried.  For the inward man is the author of the outward man.  We ought to have done the inward and not left the other undone.  It is not enough to do the outside and not the inside as the Scribes and Pharisees, nor is it any bit more acceptable to claim the inward man is in order while the outward man is ignored or excused.  If the inward man WERE in order, the outward would also be in order.

We, like the Scribes and Pharisees before us, suffer from “incomplete obedience” which is silly talk for disobedience.  In the first chapter of the book of James, we’re admonished about our obedience:   

 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

We MUST be doers of the Word in all things and in all ways.