The Blessing of Obedience: Submission to God’s Will through Christ’s Example
“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Hebrews 5:8-9
Today’s study on learning obedience through Christ is inspired by Andrew Murray’s book “The Blessings of Obedience.
In Blessings of Obedience, Andrew Murray explores the deep connection between obedience and a personal relationship with God. He reveals that true obedience is only attainable through a close, intimate relationship with God.
In this post, we will discuss key lessons from his book and reflect on how Christ’s obedience, perfected through suffering, can become the model and source of strength for our lives. We’ll also briefly discuss the role of the Holy Spirit, the power of Scripture, and the call to deny ourselves.
Let’s explore Murray’s insightful wisdom on this much-needed topic. May God bless this post and all who read it. Amen.
Intimate Fellowship: The Wellspring of Faithful Obedience
The key to faithfully obeying God is to develop a close and personal relationship with Him. Andrew Murray emphasizes that our efforts to obey God will be unsuccessful unless we have continual fellowship with Him. This is because God’s holy presence, manifested through the Holy Spirit, provides us with the power and strength required to obey and submit to His will.
How can we maintain a close fellowship with Him?
Based on my experience, following God’s commands goes beyond mere obedience. Sometimes, despite our efforts to obey, we may find ourselves unable to do so. This struggle is captured in Romans 7:15, where Paul says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
No matter how much we desire to serve God, like Peter before denying Christ three times, we will continue to fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Why? Because we live in a fallen world in bodies that are prone to sin. However, we have an advocate in heaven who mediates for us with God: Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2:5). His blood is always before God’s throne, providing forgiveness for all past, present, and future sins.
Although Christ’s blood is before the throne of God, our conscience often prevents us from having an uninterrupted relationship with God due to the weakness of our flesh.
In Hebrews 9:14, it says, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
This verse shows that God has given us the blood of Christ, which can cleanse our conscience from sin.
So, if obedience is not the source of our staying in close fellowship with God, what is it then?
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom 10:17). We are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). The faith in God that saved us now sustains us.
where does this faith come from?
The Word of God!
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
John 16:13
Renewing the Mind: The Path to Spiritual Transformation
Romans 8:4 says, “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
This means that the law of the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2) is effective only for those who are spiritual and set their minds on things above, not on the things of the earth (Colossians 3:2).
Romans 8:5 reads, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
Our obedience depends on whether we walk according to the flesh or the Spirit, not on striving for our own righteousness outside of God’s (Eph 3:22, 28).
In the end, our hearts are focused on what we value most. Just as Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). We are encouraged to focus on heavenly things, not earthly things (Colossians 3:2).
This is where the Word of God becomes the foundation of our obedience. We should constantly think about it, read it, and allow God to transform our hearts towards heavenly things in order to be spiritually minded (Romans 8:6).
Perfected Through Trials: Christ’s Path of Obedience
Jesus Himself learned obedience through suffering. Hebrews 5:8-9 says, “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
Christ needed to experience suffering not because of personal sin or lack of holiness but so He could fully yield His will to the Father. His obedience, perfected through suffering, made Him the perfect High Priest (Hebrews 5:9-10) and the source of eternal salvation for all who believe in Him.
The ultimate aim of salvation is surrendering our wills. Christianity is not just an emotional experience, a faith declaration, or gaining entry into heaven after death. It is a rebirth of our spirits. We become spiritually minded, born-again children of God, putting away the things of the flesh and renouncing our friendship with this dying world that is opposed to God’s kingdom.
If we fail to pick up our crosses and accept this death, we are unworthy of Christ and all that God has to freely give us through Him (Mat 10:38).
The Power of God’s Voice: Restoring Obedience through His Word
Just as He was obedient even unto death (Philippians 2:8), Christ enables His disciples to live obedient lives through constant dependence on Him. True obedience and submission to God’s will become impossible without this moment-by-moment fellowship with God.
As mentioned earlier in this post, the Bible emphasizes the importance of hearing God’s Word. In Jeremiah 7:23, God promises, “Obey My voice, and I will be your God.” This shows that God’s voice enables us to submit to Him.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12). The Word of God has the power to separate our flesh from our reborn spirits, enabling our souls to align with God rather than the desires of the flesh.
Therefore, it is essential to regularly listen to God’s voice through His Word, as without doing so, we lose the very source and power needed to overcome our flesh.
Beyond Human Wisdom: Cultivating Direct Communion with God
In his book, Murray parallels the Israelites of old, who relied on Moses to hear from God, as do many Christians today through pastors. Many believers are satisfied with hearing God’s Word through them rather than directly from His Word.
Most New Testament letters were written to warn members of the body of Christ to be vigilant, stay away from, and expose false teachers who had infiltrated the community and sought to divide the flock. These individuals were self-seeking and used Christ through the devil as an opportunity to fulfill their own selfish desires.
Paul expressed that he did not preach using persuasive words or human wisdom. Instead, he preached with a demonstration of the Spirit and power so that our faith would not rest on human wisdom and knowledge but on God (1 Corinthians 2:5).
Today, we can embrace this by turning off social media influencers and pastors, not reading from books, listening to Christian networks, and opening up His Word for Him to teach us directly. It’s not to dismiss the above permanently but to first gain a foundation with God so that when we listen to other sources of His Word, we can know whether or not we hear His voice in it (John 10:5).
We are called to follow Jesus. He lived by the Word of God, using it as His sword to overcome temptation (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Even as He faced suffering and death, His life was governed by the Word.”
As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Let’s make the Word of God our daily bread for our life (John 6:25). Let’s put aside the devices, entertainment, social media, and everything else that fights for our attention and find time within each day to open up God’s Word and hear His life-imparting voice.
The Indwelling Spirit: God’s Power for Authentic Obedience
While Scripture is essential, human effort alone cannot bring about authentic obedience. We should never forget that our righteousness is like filthy rags (Is 64:6). The Holy Spirit is the power by which we can obey and do God’s will here on earth (Philippians 2:13). For Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption (1 Cor 1:30).
As believers, we must trust in the Holy Spirit and acknowledge that God works in us through Him (Acts 1:8, Phil 2:13). By taking in the Word of God (1 John 1:1), we rely on the Holy Spirit to enable us to obey it. Scripture becomes not just a set of rules and commands but the revelation of what God will do in and through us as we submit our lives to Him.
Abiding in the Vine: Our Position of Dependence and Fruitfulness
Jesus said in John 15:5, ‘I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.’ Jesus also says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me (John 15:4).
We do not possess God’s life, but we are vessels that allow His life to flow through us (2 Cor 4:7). Thus, the sap (God’s life) flows from the branch (us) so that others can receive His life. Our position is one of absolute surrender and dependence; we are to allow God to work through us and ultimately accomplish His will here on earth. This was the essence of Jesus’ life.
In Conclusion: Embracing the Journey of Obedience in God’s Grace
Christ’s example of perfect obedience, even unto death, serves as both our model and our source of strength. Through His sacrifice, we have been given the opportunity to live in intimate fellowship with God, allowing His life to flow through us like sap through branches of a vine.
Let us remember that our position before God is one of absolute humility, surrender, and dependence.
We are called to set our minds on things above, immerse ourselves in Scripture, and rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. In doing so, we allow God’s righteousness to be fulfilled in us, not by our own efforts but by His grace working through our faith.
As we close this reflection, let us commit to deepening our relationship with God through daily engagement with His Word. May we turn away from the distractions of this world and tune our ears to His voice, for it is in hearing and obeying God’s voice that we find our true identity, purpose, and the power to live obedient lives that bring glory to His name.
May the Lord bless you and keep you as you walk this path of obedience, rooted in His love and sustained by His grace. Amen.
Written by: David Matthews Jr
