HOW OBIDIENCE LEADS TO ABUNDANCE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
One of the most compelling challenges we face as a Christian is coming to a point of OBEDIENCE in our relationship with Jesus. By nature, we are made with an inner focus on Independence and Self Trust. It is a sense of confidence that WE KNOW what is best for us. WE KNOW the things that bring us the most pleasure and allow us to reach our goals and be successful. Recognizing who we are and our strengths and weaknesses is a good thing, but ultimately it tends to put us in a place of Self Reliance and Self Identity rather than the Identity and Reliance that God wants us to find in Him. It also allows us to be drawn into a world and cultural lens of what makes us Complete ! We gain a self inflicted desire to be measured by the world’s definition of success, acceptance, pleasure, morality, and all the other attributes that a chaotic culture can cast upon us. It often can put our society in a position of divisiveness and a relentless struggle to understand even the most basic elements of TRUTH and CLARITY. We often find even the most simple things like Love and Kindness becoming a battlefield over Self and Group defined points of view ! How Foolish this must look to God, Our Creator, as He looks down upon us from His throne. We still struggle to overcome the very problem that began so long ago when mankind first tasted the fruit of the Knowledge Of Good And Evil. In our own unique ways still attempting to be our own god unto ourselves. As life unfolds, no matter your belief or non belief comes to an understanding, we all reach a Crossroad where there comes a realization that WE CANNOT MAKE OUR LIVES COMPLETE ON OUR OWN….Some will seek the Wisdom Of Men, Some Will Seek The Occult and Darkness or perhaps an Escape into addiction….and Some Of Us Will Seek God ! God Our Creator, and a re-built relationship through the Love, Sacrifice, and Resurrection of His Son, JESUS CHRIST. In that moment, we Surrender Our Life To Him. Dying to self, we place our Trust In Him and give Him the Authority and Power to direct our lives. He is our LORD,SAVIOR, AND KING.
AND BEING FOUND IN HUMAN FORM, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS. THEREFORE GOD HAS HIGHLY EXALTED HIM AND BESTOWED UPON HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, SO THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. Philippians 2: 8-11
AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US, AND WE HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY, GLORY AS OF THE ONLY SON FROM THE FATHER, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH. John 1:14
YET FOR US THERE IS ONE GOD, THE FATHER, FROM WHOM ARE ALL THINGS AND FOR WHOM WE EXIST, AND ONE LORD, JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM ARE ALL THINGS AND THROUGH WHOM WE EXIST. 1 Corinthians 8:6
AND BEING MADE PERFECT, HE BECAME THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM. Hebrews 5:9
In these verses we are truly confronted with a myriad of simple truths. God is the source of everything, including our creation, and WE EXIST FOR HIM ! Jesus is TRUE PERFECTION and He is the SOURCE FOR ETERNAL SALVATION. Take time to realize that He left Heaven to become a man and live among us, ultimately sacrificing Himself on a cross that We Might Live and Have Relationship with God The Father. What An Amazing Plan. Mankind Lost. Mankind Rescued. Mankind Redeemed through the the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. HIS BLOOD PURIFYING US FROM SIN, AND INVITING US TO “ABIDE IN HIM AND HE IN US”, ETERNALLY !!! It is such a loving gift, but it does require some choices once He Is Your Savior. To truly live a life in Christ and See the abundance of Fruit and Blessings around us, we must become OBEDIENT TO JESUS AS OUR LORD AND KING. It is a two pronged approach of “Giving Up”, and “Moving In.” Giving up the things we covet and desire for SELF, and Moving into the things that Jesus teaches us that are deeply righteous and necessary for us to BE LIKE HIM. Perhaps the best part of being Obedient is that it actually Frees Us Up to live a more humble and simple life. Jesus is the Authority over our will and life, and He Guides Our Path And Purpose. NO MORE CONFUSION. HIS TRUTH IS OUR TRUTH. In the times we are in currently, there is no better place to reside than in Him and God’s Word and Truth. In Him we secure our IDENTITY. WE ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE. It is also very clear in God’s Word that we are going to live abundantly IF WE WALK IN GOD”S WAYS. Abundance is not just freely and cheaply thrown out there. We can’t earn Salvation, but we Can Seek God’s Kingdom and make efforts to live as God desires us too. In that way, we do store up treasures in Heaven and find our place in God’s Kingdom to reign and abide with Jesus. What an incredible promise:)
I AM THE LORD; THAT IS MY NAME; MY GLORY I GIVE TO NO OTHER, NOR MY PRAISE TO CARVED IDOLS. Isaiah 42:8
AND BEING MADE PERFECT, HE BECAME THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM. Hebrews 5:9
BLESSED ARE YOU, O LORD; TEACH ME YOUR STATUTES ! WITH MY LIPS I WILL DECLARE ALL THE RULES OF YOUR MOUTH. IN THE WAY OF YOUR TESTIMONIES I DELIGHT AS MUCH AS IN ALL RICHES. I WILL MEDITATE ON YOUR PRECEPTS AND FIX MY EYES ON YOUR WAYS. I WILL DELIGHT IN YOUR STATUTES; I WILL NOT FORGET YOUR WORD. Psalm 119: 12-16
AND GOD IS ABLE TO BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY, SO THAT IN ALL THINGS AT ALL TIMES, HAVING ALL THAT YOU NEED, YOU WILL ABOUND IN EVERY GOOD WORK. 2 Corinthians 9:8
An Abundant Life, fostered by Obedience to Jesus no matter how hard it may seem in certain circumstances. It involves a great effort to surrender control while also realizing that once you do, Jesus has you in His Heart and Hands. Giving yourself up into His Complete Love For You, while casting aside your own pride and efforts. Allowing Our King to direct everything because You Know the Depth Of His Love For You. It brings Peace, Hope, and Confidence that YOU are a son or daughter of the Most High God. In this way we find a life that is full of JOY and SATISFACTION. No more time spent second guessing decisions, or hearing the voices of criticism and judgement. Just YOU AND GOD….in a PERFECT RELATIONSHIP. It takes the effort of cleaning one’s heart and opening it up to be filled by the very PRESENCE OF CHRIST. Being FILLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. It is a COMPLETENESS that can only be achieved by Grace, Faith, and Eternal Love. Obedience leads to Abundance….only in Christ will you find this simple truth. May God bless You, and Lead us all to His Son.
TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN FROM ME; FOR I AM GENTLE AND LOWLY IN HEART, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT. Matthew 11: 28-30
MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE AS YOU TRUST IN HIM, SO THAT YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Romans 15:13
OBEDIENTLY ABUNDANT LIFE/JAA. AMEN !