Walk of Life – Day 7 – December 2020 – Thoughts from the Book of Proverbs
Christ – The Obedient Son
Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Proverbs 7:2
The best Father-Son relationship would be that of the Lord Jesus and the Heavenly Father and also his submission and obedience to his earthly parents. The Lord Jesus Christ is God and there is no doubt about that. But when he came as human form to this earth, he lived in obedience and submission to his earthly parents. Of all the surprises and miracles of God coming in human form is Luke 2:51.
“Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.”
However, the topmost priority of the Lord Jesus was his submission and obedience to his heavenly father. “Then said I, Lo, I come (In the volume of the book it is written of me,) To do thy will, O God.” – Hebrews 10.7. Christ’s entire life and ministry were orchestrated by His Father and that Jesus was careful to carry out every detail according to the will of His Father.
The Lord Jesus obeyed the word of His Father and came down into this sin-stricken world to save mankind from the clutches of sin. His walk and talk was governed by his father. “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak” (John 12:49). All that Christ did in His life on earth was done according to the Scriptures “Now this took place that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled” “Now this took place that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled” (Matthew 21:4).
The culmination of Christ’s complete obedience was at the cross. There was the Lord Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane, the sin of the whole world laid upon Him. He knew no sin but He became sin for us. He cried Lord if it be possible take up away this cup from me, but not what I will but thy will be done.
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).
Just imagine the pain and agony that Christ went through to fulfil his father’s will. The creator of heaven and earth, the beloved son of God had to hang on a cross as a common criminal to pay the price for the sins of this world…AND HE OBEYED…wholeheartedly, completely, and sincerely. Obedience to our earthly parents is a commandment with a promise. We need to be subject to worldly authority. At the same time, we need to submit ourselves to do the will of the Father. All of us go through the Gethsemane experience when our will seems the easiest path but doing His will brings eternal gain. This beautiful hymn will speak to you today:
Have you had a Gethsemane? Have you prayed in despair?
In the dark of those weary hours, did the Lord meet you there?
Have you had a Gethsemane? Have you prayed the night through?
Have you shed tears in agony, when no hope was in you?
Have you prayed, “If it is thy will, may this cup pass from me?
But if it’s your will, dear Lord, I will bear it for thee?”
You may be at Gethsemane today. You may be wondering if obeying God is really the right thing to do. The way seems narrow and steep, it does not look like the best thing to do, obeying God’s word means losing precious friendships, maybe a job, maybe a better salary, maybe something that you hold very dear in this life. But nothing is more precious than obeying God’s perfect will in your life.
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. John 4:34.
Lord, let us strive to be obedient to you in all things. May I, like the Lord Jesus desire to do thy will and thy will alone. May you grant grace in every Gethsemane in my life to do your perfect will. In Jesus’ name Amen.
