Obedience can be a hard row for our flesh to hoe, as Paul so eloquently stated in Rom 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” But the bible says that Christians are saved unto obedience.
1Pe 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” The flesh will try to justify disobedience. “Obedience is not a fruit of the Spirit so we can‘t be held accountable”. I don’t know that any one or any group actually says that but it sounds like something we would say in the flesh. Our spirit will convince of the fallacy of an attitude like that.
So, what are we supposed to do? So often church members leave the works of obedience to their pastors or their deacons or to others who are willing to take up the tasks of religion. Jas 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” It does take an effort on our parts to be obedient to the LORD and to do those things He has tasked us to do. Eph 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Remember Paul’s discourse on the will of the flesh and the desire to do good. (Rom 7:18-25) No one is immune to this conflict, this war in our members. Not me, not Pastors, none of us is unaffected by our flesh. Jesus learned experiential obedience to the Father as He prayed through His anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane. His answer to Himself was, as always, not my will, but thine. Luke 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luke 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Jesus knew what the ending of that entire experience would be. It would be His glorification. Yet, His flesh tempted Him. Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
And He was obedient to His Father.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
People want to think that walking the Christian life is so difficult, too difficult for ordinary people. I haven’t found the verse that states “For because you are extraordinary, God saved you.” Maybe it’s in Sand Castles 1:34. God saves regular people like us so that He can be glorified. 2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Walking in faith takes practice. It takes doing. That is the “secret” to walking in faith. To having a faith that lives and endures as James says, Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
What do I mean by practice? Here’s an example. Get with a friend or family member who knows you and who knows you are a Christian. Practice inviting that person to church. Practice until you are confident in speaking the invitation, , some simple things that impress you about our church, the address, in putting your personality into your invitation. Practice on other friends or family until you are able to talk to one who might not be as receptive to you or to the invitation. Paul didn’t convert everyone he spoke to. But some came to know the LORD because he spoke to them. Here’s how he stated it.
1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
1Co 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1Co 9:23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
A lot of our shyness comes from not knowing what to say. Practice, practice, practice. You don’t get good at something because you want to do it. You practice, practice, practice.