Obedience as a Response

And God spoke all these words, saying,“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Have you ever thought about the words at the beginning of the Ten Commandments? We often call them the “Preamble.” In legal terms, a preamble is “the introductory part of a statute or deed, stating its purpose, aims, and justification.” That is exactly what we find here. Notice that the Lord God prefaces his Law with the affirmation of Israel’s salvation at his mighty hand. Herein lies the justification of the Law. Israel, as God’s people, were thus required to obey His holy Law. He delivered them from the land of bondage and the house of slavery; therefore, He, in His holiness, demanded their obedience. Their salvation was a result of His elective and saving grace; their obedience was their response to that saving grace and a reflection of His holiness. He did not save them by their obedience to His Law. He demanded their obedience as a response to the salvation He granted by His grace. It was the way they glorified him as their God. 

And so it is with us. God, in his mercy and grace, reached down and delivered us, through our Lord Jesus Christ, from bondage of sin when we could not deliver ourselves. Therefore, He demands our obedience. And, our obedience of Him is a glorification of His mighty grace. Paul writes, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Elsewhere, Peter instructs us, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:14-16). And still further, John comments, “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments... By this we may be sure that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked” (1 John 2:3-6). And conclusively, Jesus states, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). 

Let me encourage you today by asking, “What does you obedience or lack of obedience to God say about your relationship with Him?” Does it testify to the presence of His saving grace in your life? Or, does it testify to something else? Does your life reflect God’s holiness? Have you responded to His saving grace with the obedience of your life? Think about these questions. Reflect upon them. Locate the areas of your life which aren’t reflective of His glory and in submission to Him. “Turn away from [that] evil and do good: seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14). 

CHD

Scripture Readings: 

Psalm 34

John 14:15-15:27

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Colossians 3

1 John 1-2