In Luke chapter eight, we read how Jesus stilled a raging storm on a lake with just his word of command. Then we read how he commanded a whole legion of demons to leave a man and they did. Wow! He commands the forces of nature and they obey. He commands the demons of hell and they obey. But when he commands human beings, often they don’t! We have to wonder how our refusal to obey affects Jesus
You can sense a little of Jesus’ frustration when he asks:
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46
Modern Christianity has placed great emphasis on “faith,” but we seem to know little about faith except in contrast with works of law. We are so fixated on this single issue that we often feel compelled to explain grace, faith and work of law to people who don’t even know what the Law of Moses is!
Sadly, for all of our obsession with faith, our understanding of it is very incomplete. Like the One-Note Somba, we only see faith as it contrasts with works. But that hardly does justice “faith” as we see it in the bible. In the scriptures faith is not just an intellectual acceptance of a proposition. Read through the Gospels and watch how Jesus highlights it. It’s primarily trust. And it’s vibrant, active, persistent, determined, and above all obedient. The book of Romans contains Paul’s most extensive explanation of faith, grace, works and law, and yet Paul begins and ends the book with his explicit goal: “the obedience of faith.” (Rom. 1:5 and 16:26)Again, we often quote Paul’s statement:
“By grace you have been save through faith and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. Not because of works lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
But we leave off the next verse or at best give it lip service:
“for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)
We are not created in Christ for a good work here and there; we are created to walk in them. Good works must characterize the way we live out our faith in Christ.
But in our obsession with our truncated credo of faith we also grievously leave out loving God. The first and great commandment according to Jesus is not to believe in God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength; it is to love Him that way. The cornerstone in our relationship with God is love. Paul says it like this: “so faith, hope, and love abide; these three, but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13 )
This is the theme throughout the scriptures. And here again, loving God is not solely an emotion. Just as faith isn’t really faith without obedience, (James 2:14-24) even so true love for God is obedient:
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:21
“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.” John 14:23–24
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” Galatians 5:6
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:14–20
Is your love for God being lived out in an obedient life to the Savior?