Obeying Christ

On Palm Sunday Jesus commanded two of His disciples to go into the village and fetch a donkey and its colt.  Notice their response.

“The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them.” Matthew 21:6 

 The disciples were obedient.  Their obedience was...

1) Exact.  They went and did “just” as Jesus directed them.  They did no more, no less.  They followed His instructions exactly.  Our obedience should be the same.  We should follow Christ’s word exactly.  We shouldn’t add anything to His word.  We shouldn’t take anything away.  We shouldn’t ignore any part of it.  We should do exactly as it says.

2) Risky.  Their obedience could have cost them.  Jesus told them to take someone else’s property without asking.  Normally that would be called theft.  They could have been severely punished.  But they risked their safety, their freedom, and their reputation to be obedient to Jesus.  We should do the same.  We must be willing to risk everything to be obedient to Christ.

As Christians we must be obedient to God’s word.  This is what it means to be a Christian – to obey Christ.  Faith is dead without obedience.  Praise and worship are offensive without obedience.  Tithes and offerings are worthless without obedience.  Bible study is pointless without obedience.  Acts of charity and compassion are empty without obedience.

For a Christ follower, the measure of maturity is determined by the speed of obedience.  The most mature Christ follower is not the person who has attended the most church events or accumulated the most information about Jesus, but rather the person whose heart is most transformed.  And transformation is seen when a person hears God and responds with swift obedience.”  Dave Ferguson, The Big Idea