Author: crcolburn

As Paul greets Timothy in his first letter to his spiritual son, he calls himself an “apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour.” I got hung up a bit on the word “commandment,” and more-so the idea that Paul positively accepts that he is doing what God commands him. There is not an ounce of regret or an attempt to hide that he has surrendered his own will and is doing what he is told to do.

I’ve never heard somebody positively say, “I’m just doing what I’m told.” I’ve only ever heard it used as a way to shirk responsibility or mock authority, and to me that makes Paul’s example striking. He makes no apologies for being a “yes-man” for God. What did unwavering obedience to God bring to Paul’s life? It brought much hardship, but much fruit. Paul summarizes his hardships in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, noting beatings, stonings, and perils upon perils. As he went without sleep, food, and clothing, he also remained concerned with the welfare of “all the churches,” (v28). While he endured suffering, he also enjoyed much fruit. His writings are filled with names of people that he led to Christ, discipled, and loved. We read letters written to churches that existed and shape our doctrine today because Paul followed orders. His friends were friends by faith because entered the doors that God opened. His two “sons in the faith,” Timothy and Titus, were so because he did what God told him to do.

What is our heart toward God in this matter? Is our obedience framed by convenience or preference? Do we try to fit obedience to God into our plans, or attach God’s will to our own? Is that actually obedience? Doing what you’re told is hard to do; it goes against the grain of our independent nature. Yet, if we know and love God, we’ll be consistently obedient to his commands through suffering and success. As the elder apostle John tells us:

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

1 John 5:3

C.R.

In my devotions this morning I read this passage:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

John 12:24

Today, most of us will enjoy full and varied feasts that are possible because, at a most basic level, a “corn of wheat” was buried, died, and resurrected in order to produce a fruitful harvest.

This is a great reminder to us! If we will die to ourselves, and yield ourselves to Christ’s life in us and through us, we too will bear much fruit.

…Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Luke 11:28

As Christmas marches toward us we are sentimentally mindful of Christ’s earthly mother Mary. She was certainly used of God in a unique way, but is she “more special” in the eyes of God than any other saint today? Is she a “favorite?” Did she have more access to God, more of his blessing, more of anything that is promised to us today?

Thankfully, no. In Luke 11:27, a random woman shouts to Jesus above the din of the crowd, “Your mom is so blessed to have a son like you!”

Jesus doesn’t humbly bow his head and kick at the ground with a sort of “aw, shucks” grin. He responds quickly, “Actually, those who hear and obey the Word of God are blessed!”

A similar response is found in Luke 8:20-21 when some helpful folks let him know his mother and brothers are trying to get to him to speak with him. With no hesitation Jesus states, “My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”

This is great news for us today. Jesus Christ is God in flesh, fully revealing and demonstrating the power and glory and character of God. As God is no respecter of persons, Jesus didn’t play favorites while on earth. The same Holy Spirit who dwelled in the disciples and gave them power to witness dwells in every believer at the moment of their new birth!

Therefore, let us pray freely, serve in holiness, and live joyfully. There are no favorites in God’s Kingdom.

-C.R.