Being obedient
- Details
- Published on Sunday, February 4, 2018
By Pastor Barry Mossip
Zion Church
Being a Christian is more than just a title, it means we must be obedient to Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Imagine for a moment, we are all crew members of a fancy cruise ship and the captain got sick and could not take the ship safely back into the harbour. We radio in for a new captain and the coast guard brings a new person who, once aboard, takes control of the ship. We all tell him how thankful we are, how we have faith in him and how we trust he will take us safely into the harbour. Just after that, we all get up and leave our stations: navigation officer, engine room controller, rudder control officer, weather advisor, communications officer, engine room crew, cooks and deck hands all simply head back to our cabins. The captain needs to have all hands on deck in order for him to get us back to harbour, so he says “Hey! Where are you guys going? Why are you all running away from me?”
One of us answers back, “Because we trust you. As you can see, it’s quite the storm outside, it’s hard work, it’s cold on the deck and the ship is being tossed around because of the storm.We would rather be comfy and snug in our cabins than have to be up on the deck. Need I remind you, you did say you can get us safely back into the harbour?”
He would reply, “You do not really trust in me, for if you did, you would do as I tell you. You are mocking me; you are insulting me. You have brought me on board your ship to make a fool of me. If you really trusted me, every man would take his proper place and do his duty, and then, as I gave the word of command, it would be obeyed, and so you would be brought safely into port.”
Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. – 1 Peter 1:13-16.
Be obedient to God by being holy in everything you do. First by being ready to learn, surrender your former way of life (the flesh) and be transformed by the Holy Spirit. God expects you, as His child, to be obedient and be subject to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and that happens through the study of God’s word and prayer.