An Open Ear

part three

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 15:12-17; Psalm 40:6-8; Hebrews 10:5-10

              Through Jesus, we learn what obedience to God looks like. He is the ideal model and standard of obedience because He obeyed perfectly (I come to do your will – Hebrews 10:7) and He obeyed with a joyful spirit (I delight to do you will – Psalm 40:8). We, of course, fall short of the perfection of obedience we see in Jesus. We fall short in actually obeying, or when we do obey, we do so reluctantly or resentfully. Nevertheless, in our pursuit of holiness, Jesus shows us the way and gives us a model to follow.

              And the first thing we see in these texts is Jesus’ commitment to do the will of God. The one thing we see Jesus saying as he was entering the world is He was going to do the will of God. This is repeatedly reflected in the Gospels. Over and over again we hear Jesus saying he must do and say and go where the Father directs.

              As we follow Jesus, this must be the bottom-line commitment of our lives. Our first response must not be to debate, but to do the will of God. This is a surrendered will. It is our will given over and submitted to His.