Joy in Obedience
[Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel]. (1 Peter 1:14 AMP).
Eating is a big deal to me. I like it. It has lots of benefits like restoring energy, building strong muscles, bones, and teeth, sustaining live. However, no matter how many perks I can come up with for eating, over indulgences result in severe consequences that remain inevitable. Front and foremost, my system cannot tolerate large amounts of sugar. Besides the obvious weight gain and tooth decay, sugar causes me to become lethargic. I become moody, which eventually leads to depression. I have also had my share of migraines do to excess consumption of the sweet treat.
Knowing all this, you might think I’d avoid the substance all together. Ah contraire, my friend. I push it to the limit, and at the onset of the above symptoms, I kick myself for bringing on the obvious discipline I need.
God created me with an intolerance to sugar and has given me full knowledge of it, its symptoms, and the cure. Can I blame Him for the consequences of my deliberate noncompliance? Not at all. He supplied me with all I need to know to walk in obedience and to retain my joy. Whether I’m submissive to Him or conform to the desires of my former ignorance is totally up to me.
God never forces His children into obedience. It’s called free will. And the LORD never crosses the boundaries He has set in place, even though He knew from the beginning that we would rebel.
When Joshua led the Hebrew army into victory over the people of Jericho, God had instructed them to let all the wealth behind as an offering to Him. Obedience was the key to their joy in victory. Not that big of a deal, after all, God had supplied all their needs down to having the Egyptians give them wondrous gifts, livestock, servants, and all necessities to get the Hebrews out of their land. The Israelites did according to the word of Moses; and they [urgently] asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver and of gold, and clothing. The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they gave them what they asked. And they stripped the Egyptians [of those things]. And a mixed multitude went also with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds (Exodus 12:35, 36, 38).
God had plans for the Israelite people. All He asked was obedience and trust. According to Joshua chapter 7, Achan did neither. And it cost his family dearly. For a few pieces of silver and a robe, Achan, his entire family, and all his livestock were executed that day. Not only that, because of this man’s sin, Israel lost God’s favor and 35 soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice during their invasion at Ai.
God demanded total submission and His chosen nation succumbed to the command to destroy the wickedness in their camp.
We may not understand why God required the lives of Achan and his family, including the livestock, but we can draw the conclusion that God takes sin seriously. And grave consequences that may endanger generations follow our insubordinate actions. Although some may say, “this is my life and what I do harms no one but me,” everything we do influences everyone around us. Moreover, if we are Christians, our actions grieve the Holy Spirit and misrepresent our Savior in the eyes of unbelievers and weak believers alike, damaging our testimony of Him. Ultimately, joy dissipates through disobedience, dimming our reflection of Christ to the world.
Peter knew firsthand how quickly our Christ-like light can flicker and die. The night of Jesus’ arrest, he denied our Savior three times, then wept bitterly at the realization of what he had done (Mark 14:66-72). No doubt, Peter lost his joy and thought there was no hope of ever restoring it. He was so sure that the LORD wanted nothing more to do with him that he returned to his former occupation—fishing (John 21). However, Jesus never intended to let Peter go. The Master called him back into His service, restoring Peter’s joy a hundred fold. As we read the introductory verse penned by Peter in his first letter to the church, we can appreciate the disciple’s earnestness in pleading that his readers obey God as His children.
The apostle Paul, also, beckons us to submission as he writes, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12b). However, he reminds us that we are not alone. [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. (Phil. 2:13 AMP).
Since Calvary, we have an advantage over Achan and all the people of the Old Testament. We have the promised Holy Spirit to help us make right choices. Re-read that verse! God is working in you and me, energizing and creating in us the power and desire to do His good work! I feel strengthened in that promise, how about you?
As we are strengthened, energized, and empowered, God takes joy and our joy abounds. Our inner light radiates the love of Christ until we glow like stars, giving the light of hope in the gospel of Jesus to the lost of this world (Phil. 2:15). Those who will embrace that light will find eternal life.
Achan’s disobedience led to death and exemplified the consequences of all sin. But we have a promise in Jesus Christ. Through His death, all have hope of eternal life.