March 11: SIMPLE OBEDIENCE
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul… 1 Peter 2:11
Jesus referred to such things as thorns . . . that choke the word (Matthew 13:22). It is a loving warning that needs to be repeated for our own sakes and for the sakes of those around us. …having your conduct honorable among the [unbelievers], that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12).
The deceitfulness of “thorns” in our lives makes us think we know better than God. How patiently He works to free us of the world’s deceptions! Simple obedience to His instructions would sweep away the mental clutter of the worldly things that we pursue. The way to distinguish between that which will help us to thrive in our relationship with Christ and the things which compete with that relationship is to spend time with Him in His word – and then do what it says. The enemy of souls is behind every worthless habit, tradition, or form of entertainment – thorns! – we allow into our lives that contradict the divine instructions.
God sent His Son into the world as the spotless, sinless sacrifice – to put Him in the state that we deserved (death!) for breaking His law. But Satan devised the horrendous tortures that He endured to reach the point of death. The evil one was behind the cruel mockery of crowning Him with a crown of thorns, as if to force his wicked dominance into the mind of Christ, the gentle Lamb of God.
A partial truth is more deceptive than a whole lie. One of Satan’s most effective ones is parroted in churches all over the world. They say, “It is impossible to obey God’s law.” This implies that He makes unreasonable demands, painting Him as a cruel, oppressive tyrant, or, to the other extreme, He doesn’t mind that we fall short of the standard, painting Him as benevolently spineless. This partial truth — “It is impossible to obey God’s law” — has caused millions to reject Him as ruthless and cruel. Or weak and powerless. Countless souls live under a shadow of terror, or worse, in a state of hopelessness. Others believe they are saved even as they continue in sin. Yes, it is impossible to obey God’s law apart from Him. But with Him, all things are possible. The Savior is patiently at work to restore His image into our character, which has been severely marred by Satan. Only as we yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit day-by-day, instead of yielding to our flesh, can the righteous requirement of the law . . . be fulfilled in us (Romans 8:4a, see also vv.8-9). Have you asked Him to show you where you lack obedience in your life?
as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance . . . 1 Peter 1:14
Look further: Psalm 128:1; Isaiah 1:19; Luke 23:56; John 14:14; 16:24; 19:2,5; Acts 17:30; Romans 6:16; James 4:2-3