Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Obedient Star
Astrologers have estimated that there are 200 billion to 400 billion stars in the universe. By contrast the world’s population as at Jul 2007 was estimated at 6.6 billion. Imagine if the stars all started to have a mind of their own and wander away from their set paths; we would have astronomical heavenly disasters! The heavens are in order because they obey the laws of God and thus we enjoy the order of nature. Thank God, He has not permitted the stars to have free will as He did for mankind. Thus the issue of obedience comes into play as we exercise the enormous responsibility of free choice.
So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being" ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45. The first Adam chose to disobey God and suffered the consequence of death though he was made a living being. The last Adam chose obedience even death on the cross and became a life giving spirit.
The Christmas story is all about obedience. Jesus humbled Himself and was made like a man, emptied of all divine powers and took on our human weaknesses. Jesus obeyed the will of God the Father and surrendered equality with God. Mary submitted to the will of God that she be pregnant by the Holy Spirit and was prepared to face humiliation and possible condemnation to death.
Why should we obey God? The simple answer is because He knows better than us. Have you ever been in a plane approaching the airport with thick clouds and zero visibility and the pilot obeying every command from the control tower including circling aimlessly for a period of time? The pilot cannot see around him, but the control tower with the technology of radar sees everything. He has the whole picture of aircrafts wandering around the sky following set instructions so that they align in order for landing. The pilot if he wants to stay safe cannot exercise his own will but the will of the control tower. The Psalmist declares, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving (bring to life) the soul”.
How do we learn obedience? Usually via a humbling experience; perhaps a job situation, a relationship, an exam or a business deal. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. Hebrews 5:8. It’s difficult if not impossible for a proud man to obey because at the heart of obedience is a humble spirit.
We all find it hard to obey God consistently because we think we know better and our old nature is ever fighting our new nature in Christ. But take heart, in Christ we are more than conquerors.
This Christmas as we ponder on the willingness of Jesus to obey and its consequence for us may we examine our own lives and the areas we need to learn obedience.
So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being" ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45. The first Adam chose to disobey God and suffered the consequence of death though he was made a living being. The last Adam chose obedience even death on the cross and became a life giving spirit.
The Christmas story is all about obedience. Jesus humbled Himself and was made like a man, emptied of all divine powers and took on our human weaknesses. Jesus obeyed the will of God the Father and surrendered equality with God. Mary submitted to the will of God that she be pregnant by the Holy Spirit and was prepared to face humiliation and possible condemnation to death.
Why should we obey God? The simple answer is because He knows better than us. Have you ever been in a plane approaching the airport with thick clouds and zero visibility and the pilot obeying every command from the control tower including circling aimlessly for a period of time? The pilot cannot see around him, but the control tower with the technology of radar sees everything. He has the whole picture of aircrafts wandering around the sky following set instructions so that they align in order for landing. The pilot if he wants to stay safe cannot exercise his own will but the will of the control tower. The Psalmist declares, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving (bring to life) the soul”.
How do we learn obedience? Usually via a humbling experience; perhaps a job situation, a relationship, an exam or a business deal. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. Hebrews 5:8. It’s difficult if not impossible for a proud man to obey because at the heart of obedience is a humble spirit.
We all find it hard to obey God consistently because we think we know better and our old nature is ever fighting our new nature in Christ. But take heart, in Christ we are more than conquerors.
This Christmas as we ponder on the willingness of Jesus to obey and its consequence for us may we examine our own lives and the areas we need to learn obedience.
// posted by sleepless wherever @ 10:50 PM 
