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We begin this lesson
with a subject that I believe is imperative to our growth in a
relationship with our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus
Christ. I want to
insert here that if you are hungry spiritually for more of the God Life,
then come aboard as we explore the realm of obedience.
The word obey
in the OLD TESTAMENT means "to hear" and is often so translated.
However, in the New Testament several words describe obedience. One word
means "to hear or to listen in a state of submission."
Let's look
at man's first response to his God in the Garden of Eden. In
Genesis
2:16, God gives the command:
"of
every tree in the garden you can eat; but of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil; you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat
of it you shall surely die."
Now Adam did not seem
to have any problem with that. He had a variety of trees to choose
from and it was going good for him until God saw that Adam was lonely, and
God caused a deep sleep to come upon him and and from Adam's side took one
of his ribs and created him a helpmate. Adam was now happy as
could be and things were going great in the garden until his
helpmate (wife) fell for the bait that the serpent offered her and the
first act of disobedience was manifested by man toward his creator, and
this was the beginning of a struggle for mankind that is prevalent to this
present day.
The bible views
disobedience as a failure to hear and do God's Word. In the book of Psalms
Chapter 81, it gives the account of God's people refusing to hearken to
His voice and decides to walk after their own lustful hearts.
Israel's story is one of a nation who
failed to hearken or listen to God's Word (Jeremiah. 7:13; Hosaih.9:17).
As we get into
the Word, now there is something you must understand about
obedience to God's will for your life, and that it is 'THE CHOICES YOU
MAKE WHICH WILL HAVE AN
EFFECT UPON YOUR LIFE AND OTHERS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD OR ACQUAINTANCES." I must say as for myself
throughout the thirty-three years that I have been a Christian that I have made some
bad, as well as good choices. Thanks be unto God who has helped me
to learn from the wrong choices I made in the past.
Let's
talk about choices a little and see some bible characters and the choices
they made and the end results it brought. Let's look at Samson who
was one that made choices that cost him to grind in the mill of his
adversary. Samson's life story is found in the book of Judges beginning in
Chapter 13. Although he was separated as a Nazarite he lived a life of
contrasts. He tampered with evil associations (Judges 14:1-3). He was
spiritual at times (Judges 13:25;15:14) yet under the power of carnal
appetites. He was also childish in his plans yet courageous in his
battle. He was also mighty in his physical strength but when he began to
take for granted the power that had been put into his life and make his choices to meet his own lustful
desires the downward trend of what was precious to him began to become polluted
with many things that in the end resulted in his death.
Although he did make some choices that were devastating to his life
he was granted one last prayer and
God gave it to him.
Looking
at the life of Samson we can gain a lot from the results of his choices.
Yes, we can learn if we will become obedient to God's word for our life.
The choice is ours to make and we will reap what we sow whether we are a Christian
or not, and I want to add this also that we
are going to experience some things in our walk with God that are
necessary to our maturity in the Christian life. |
