Can we simply obey ?

John Kenneth Galbraith, in his autobiography, ‘A Life in Our Times’, illustrates the devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family's housekeeper: It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House. "Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson." "He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to disturb him." "Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him." "No, Mr. President. I work for him, not you. When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure. "Tell that woman I want her here in the White House."

Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Today everyone is speaking and only a few bother to listen and a very few bother to obey. In a generation which is so consumed by materialism and love for themselves, we have lost the charm of life. Sadly even God’s grace and blessings are measured in the grades and pay-cheques. But in midst of all these, Apostle Paul writes to the church in Philippi about the obedience of Jesus to the Father. If Jesus humbled himself it was because he obeyed. Humility is displayed in the relationship that we exhibit through obedience to one another. Though it’s tough to write and read about obedience, still let me assert that, Jesus got the highest name above every name because he humbled himself and obeyed.

We are in a culture of protest and even violating others for the sake of our well being and our causes. Whereas Jesus would never do this, He had come to die, and he was ready to die. For the father sent him to save the world. He could save the world only by dying on the cross. That is where obedience mattered and matters even today. Are we obeying God ? Or are we playing the fool by avoiding the question ? Am I obeying God even if it’s about dying for the world, self and anything else? Or Am I justifying myself in the name of some “isms” and making some “schisms”. Can we simply obey ?  

Inspired by Dr. Sanjay Patra’s Sermon in Crossway on 28th Jan 2018

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Stanley Thomas Isac

Stanley is serving as the Pastor of Crossway Church in New Delhi, he can be reached at Pastorstanleytisac@gmail.com