Obedience Glorifies God — I John 5:13-15
“A servant will not serve well who does not trust his master.”
We must develop the attitude of HUMILITY . ” Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God ” (I Peter 5:6). A servant cannot be proud. He must resign his will to that of his master. He cannot strive for fame or fortune. He must work to meet the goals of his master. ” But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life ” (Romans 6:22). As Christians we are God’s servants. We deserved eternal punishment, but God in His great love sent His Son to die for us on the cross. God loved us when we were not worth loving. Shouldn’t we then be humble? Ask God to help you develop the attitude of the humble servant.
We must develop the attitude of TRUST . A servant will not serve well who does not trust his master. He will always doubt the wisdom of his master’s decisions. If we are to OBEY God completely, we must TRUST Him. Wouldn’t that make a great song – “Trust and Obey”? We must trust God to exalt us “in due time” (I Peter 5:6) and to be a ” rewarder of them that diligently seek Him ” (Hebrews 11:6). That prospect of reward serves as an additional motivation to work for God. But we must also trust God to take care of us WHILE we serve Him. The servant who worries constantly about his own needs and those of his family wastes valuable energy. ” Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you ” (I Peter 5:7) means we trust God to both know about and provide for ALL our needs. Will you today give all your cares and worries to God in prayer? Will you acknowledge that worrying is a lack of trust in Him and ask His forgiveness for this sin?
We must develop the attitude of ALERTNESS . ” Be sober, be vigilant …” (I Peter 5:8). Satan will always oppose and attempt to thwart true obedience to God. But he does so with great subtlety. He doesn’t come as a red demon with two horns, a long tail, and a pitchfork. The Bible says that he appears “as an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14). He makes his ways look desirable and “good.” To obey God, we must be sober (serious-minded) and vigilant (alert to hidden spiritual dangers). Why? Because like a lion who sneaks up on his prey, Satan often attacks his victims before they are aware they are falling into the sin trap. Will you ask God today to help you develop an alertness to spiritual errors and danger?
We must develop the attitude of STEADFASTNESS . ” Whom resist steadfast in the faith ” (I Peter 5:9). Determine upon arising each day that you will serve the Lord. Don’t waver in your commitment to the Lord – in your resolve to obey Him. Resist every distraction, every temptation that is contrary to the will of God. Will you determine to remain faithful to Him?
We must develop the attitude of DEPENDENCE UPON GOD . But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you (I Peter 5:10). We cannot obey God in our own strength. He must give us the grace to do so. Will you ask God today for the grace to obey Him?
Author: Robert W. Rohlin
This devotional first appeared November 22, 1998 in the Advancer , a Sunday school teacher’s guide published by the Baptist Publishing House . It is gratefully reproduced here with permission from the publisher .