OBEDIENCE OPENS THE FLOODGATES

It was said of Christ that he endured and was obedient to his heavenly Father, not because of fear, but because of the joy that was set before him. He laid aside all weights and ran the race with patience. He endured shame and never fainted or wearied in his mind, because he saw the glorious rewards of obedience.

Shouldn't we be getting weary enough of all the inner turmoil that we begin to hunger after the glorious riches promised in Christ? Fear is not the best motivator toward obedience—love is! After all, divine threats were finally ignored by the children of Israel. Even God's audible voice and his frightful thunder could not keep disobedient Israelites from dancing around the golden calf. Only a deep, abiding love and reverence for God could have kept them from such disobedience.

It is sweet surrender to the will of God that opens the heavens to us. It is the yielding of every sin, every act of disobedience, that allows us the revelation of who Christ really is. The Scripture says, "Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him" (1 John 3:6).

Could it be possible that we, through living in disobedience, become distant from him? Could it be that we our own way because we have never had a revelation of Christ, his hatred of sin, and his glory and mercy? In plain language, "He who lives in disobedience has never truly seen Christ in reality."

Jesus said, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:21).

What greater reward for loving obedience could we want than having Christ reveal himself to us? What a simple formula for such a great revelation. "Love me enough to obey me—I will love you and show you who I am!" You can read all about him, study his nature, his historical background, but you will never get to know him until you do such a simple, basic thing as obeying him completely in all things.

Jesus said of Nathanael, "Behold, an Israelite, indeed, in whom there is no deceit…you shall see heaven open [to you]..." (John 1:47, 51 NKJV).

The very moment we surrender, and commit ourselves to absolute obedience, a marvelous healing power is released in our inner man. No more dread of God, or hell, or retribution. No more fear of what men can do to us. Instead, the Spirit of God begins to flood us with new light, new hope, great joy, glorious peace and abounding faith.