The Believer's Motive For Obedience     

Hebrews 12:1-3

 

     Should the question be asked, "Why should we meticulously obey the will of Christ in all things? Every believer would readily reply, "Consider him!" OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS INFINITELY WORTHY OF OUR BEST, CONSTANT OBEDIENCE. He is the perfect God and perfect Man. What an honor it is for any human being to be allowed to do anything for him! It is an honor and a privilege to offer a cup of cold water in his name, to minister to the needs of his family, to serve his servants, or to preach his gospel. Added to his glorious Person, we are constrained to obey our Lord by his acts of love and grace. He loved us and gave himself for us. Christ has bought us out from under the curse of the law by his own precious blood. Shall we neglect obedience to him? We were lost. He found us. We were naked. He robed us. We were defiled. He cleansed us. We were hungry. He fed us. We were perishing. He saved us. What greater motive could anyone need? OUR LORD IS A WISE AND GOOD MASTER. He knows all our needs, and supplies them. And he always meets our needs in a way that is honoring to him. His name is not "Baali", a hard despot, but "Ishi", our Man, our Husband. He is as good as he is wise and as wise as he is good. And those who serve him shall never lack any good thing. THE LORD JESUS IS ALL OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. All our hope for time and eternity depends entirely upon Christ. Indeed, he is all for which we hope. Our lives depend upon Christ for all things. Indeed, Christ is our Life. What will a person not do for his life? OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST IS THE FORETASTE OF HEAVEN'S BLISS AND GLORY. Those who are before the throne of God "serve him day and night in his temple." One of the greatest glories of heaven, and one of the greatest joys, will be the unceasing, perfect obedience of our immortal souls to the will of our Redeemer. Would you know the joy of heaven on earth? Obey Christ! "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Do not spend your days talking about what you used to do, or plan to do, or even lamenting what you have not done. May God give us the grace simply to do what he gives our hearts the grace and our hands the ability to do for his glory. Whatever your hand finds to do for Christ, do it now, and do it with all your heart.

 

Don Fortner