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The O-Word

The O-Word

Words of Faith 8-14-19

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2019

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Philippians 2

[8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death‑‑ even death on a cross!

 

Obedience is a word with which we would rather not deal. Something in our humanity always resists. But this too is a struggle that Jesus can understand with compassion.

We often think of the divinity of Jesus so strongly that we imagine Jesus walking without and human hesitation or fear. The scene at the Garden of Gethsemane tells us something different. Gethsemane means "olive press."

Thursday was the night of the olive press for Jesus. All of the political forces were coming together on that last night to a crushing moment. He prayed, "If possible... let this cup pass from me." Jesus sought real direction from His heavenly Father. Jesus struggled with real pain.

If we consider seriously the power that Jesus displayed during His earthly ministry, we realize how difficult that walk to the cross must have been. There was not only the humiliation but also the restraint He showed. How could there not have been Legions of angels standing at the ready, waiting for an order, should the Son of God command a devastating judgment like that in Old Testament times? Obedient humility can set aside even the power position, even the "right" position, to do one thing. What is that one thing? The will of the Father.

Ultimately that is all that counts. Jesus said it clearly: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 7:21).

Henry Blackaby stresses the power of obedience in his powerful book, "Experiencing God," saying that once we have heard clearly from God, what we do next is of the highest importance. Often we quench the voice of the Lord in our lives because we have not yet been obedient in an area where He has already spoken clearly.

Is there an area where God has directed you, but you have failed to obey? Are there adjustments in your life that you know the Lord wants you to make, but you have not carried through? A word for the day? Trust. Obey.

 

Lord, I want to be obedient. I confess to You the areas where I have been disobedient. Walk with me today as I commit myself to listen and to obey when You direct my path. I commit myself to the adjustments You have revealed in my life. Amen.

 

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, and our website, and our church app, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.  

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