Purposeful Obedience

“When Christ came into the world, he said,

‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
    but a body have you prepared for me;
in… offerings you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
    as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.”’

“When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings’, then he added, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will.’ He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

“And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:5-14

“Jesus said, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.'” “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” John 4:34; 17:4

Jesus came to earth with a mission to manifest God to the world and accomplish His will. Modeling how to live here on earth, He exposed to men the impossibility of their own righteousness. By perfect obedience to His Father, He fulfilled the law. He exemplified truth and selflessness during His public ministry, and both revealed and completed the sacrificial saving mercy of God on the cross. Teaching and guarding, loving and praying for God’s people in His name, dying, rising, and ascending, Jesus finished His assigned work with glory. (Matthew 5:17-20; John 17:6-8,12)

The finished work of Christ should inspire us to gratitude and motivate us to follow. Because of His obedience, we can be part of His pulsing kingdom life here below and make a difference through our own steadfast obedience. God’s children have purpose here on earth. He’s saved us, fashioned us, and numbered our days uniquely to fit in to His grand design and timely will. It is our responsibility to offer ourselves- gifts and resources- for the working of His intentions. (Esther 4:14; Ephesians 2:8-10)

Following suit with our Savior, is it our food, our deepest desire and satisfaction, to live for Him and do as He commands? How willing are we to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, our time and resources, for his sake? What are we doing to get to know His good, pleasing, and perfect will, and then what are we practically doing about it? Are we droopy, weak, and wobbly when it comes to obedience, or will we step up, surrender weariness to His power, and get in stride for whatever He assigns? (Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 11:7-9,32-38; 12:1-3,12-13)

How is the Lord using us to build up His body, the church? How can we more purposefully obey specific commands to make an impact on His kingdom? In what hesitancy, timidity, doubt, or fear can we trust Him to work through us? (Hebrews 10:19-25; Philippians 2:13

Lord, help me obey as You did, to Your ends and glory.