Trusting Obedience

ByJim Stephens

Reading: Hebrews 5

8 Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. 9 Then, having arrived at the full stature of his maturity and having been announced by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, 10 he became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him. (Hebrews 5:8-10 MSG)

Jesus learned trusting-obedience through suffering, and this process produced full maturity in him. I’m afraid that we humanly tend to think of full maturity as complete independence: “I’m no longer accountable to anyone, free to make all my own decisions, master of my own fate.” That’s not how God sees it.

Jesus lives for us the example of what it means to be fully mature in God’s eyes. Jesus submitted himself to a painful process of putting God’s purposes above his own purposes, God’s desires above his own desires, and God’s will above his own will. Because he was willing to go through that process, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly, trustingly obey him.

Jesus learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered. There are other kinds of obedience, you know. There is grudging obedience. There is fearful obedience. There is partial obedience. There is outward obedience with inward rebellion. The process of learning trusting-obedience through suffering and submission produces full maturity and becomes an example and encouragement to others.

We don’t live only for ourselves. Like you, I am privileged to be an example, an encouragement, and an influencer of others who must travel the same road I’m on. Our trusting-obedience will help mark out a pathway for others to follow. There’s too much at stake for us to settle for disobedience, grudging obedience, or partial obedience. My challenge is to learn trusting-obedience to God’s will for my life so that I can help others believingly and trustingly obey God’s will for their lives. Will you commit to learn and live trusting-obedience?

Prayer:

Father, I recommit myself to the lifelong process of learning trusting-obedience. I love you and I love your will and your ways. Help me to live a life of trusting-obedience in trusting confidence so that others may benefit from my example and influence. Amen.