Advent Alphabet - "O" - "Obedience"

“For just as by one man’s disobedience the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man’s obedience the many will be constituted righteous and made acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him.” (Romans 5:19) “For the true love of God is this: that we do His commands. And these orders of his are not irksome, burdensome, oppressive, or grievous.” (I John 5:3) The Christmas story started with the Son in heaven willingly obeying the plan the Father had made for Jesus – starting with the manger to the cross, from the cross to the grave, and from the grave back to heaven. While growing up here on earth, “although He was a Son, Jesus learned active and special obedience through what He suffered” (Heb.5:8). Jesus put aside His “rights” so as to assume the guise of a servant in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after he had appeared in human form, He humbled Himself still further and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7-8)! His obedience proved His love for the Father. Obedience from the heart proves our love (I. Jn. 5:3). Obeying out of fear of discipline is not done in “true love.” Obedience involves submission, commitment, and trust in the One you are obeying. Our learning discipleship has been called, “a long obedience in the same direction.” Do you remember the little story of the mother who was disciplining the little boy and had told him to sit in a certain chair until he would obey. The little boy continued to get up only to be set down again by his mother. Finally with threats of harsher discipline, the little boy sat down but said to his mother, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside.” This is not true obedience. His love for having his own way was greater than willing to obey out of love and respect for his mother. This is not how Jesus obeyed – He obeyed from His heart, and it was not “irksome, burdensome, oppressive or grievous.” He knew the Father knew what was best so He willingly obeyed because He loved the Father and His instructions. Mary likewise obeyed willingly. Luke 1:26-38 tells the story of Mary’s complete obedience. The angel, Gabriel, appeared to her, telling her she would become pregnant by the Holy Ghost and give birth to a Son and call His name Jesus, and He would be great and would be called the Son of the Most High. Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said.” Matthew 1:18-25 tells how Joseph was told by an angel to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife because that which is conceived in her is from out of the Holy Ghost, and she would bear a Son and you shall call His name, Jesus. This was all a fulfillment of prophecy (Isa.7:14). Then when Joseph roused from his sleep, he obeyed just as the angel had commanded him: he took Mary to his side as his wife, but had no union with her as her husband until she had borne her firstborn Son; and he called His name Jesus. Trust and Obey (by J. H. Sammis) When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. But we never can prove the delights of His love until all on the altar we lay. For the favor He shows, and the joy He bestows, are for those who will trust and obey. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, or we’ll walk by His side in the way. What He says we will do, where He sends we will go - never fear, only trust and obey. Blog Address: http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com