John 8:31-32 (NIV)31 …Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”[1]
Which comes first, understanding or obedience? A positive response to authority is always easier when we agree with what we are being asked to do. However, the real issue is not agreement, but trust.
Picture the child who is about to run out into the street and a loving parent yells, “Stop!” If the child obeys, trusting his parent’s view, then serious injury or even death is averted. However, if the child subconsciously says to himself, “I don’t see why I need to stop,” and runs into the street, trusting his own view of the situation… You get the idea.
Michael Slaughter, a pastor in Ohio, tells of an experience in Germany. In a discussion with German Christians, Slaughter discovered they have no word for “lord.” They refer to Jesus as Herr Jesus – Mr. Jesus. In the conversation they said to him that American Christians might as well not have the word “lord,” for we refer to Jesus as Lord without really making him Lord.
Sadly, I think this is more true than we want to believe. All too often he is Lord only as long as we agree with him. Is that trust? Absolutely not! Yet, placing our trust in Jesus, as opposed to anyone or anything else, including ourselves, is not just foundational to receiving God’s blessing it is a prerequisite to everything that God wants to give us and do through us. True trust demonstrates itself in obedience which more often than not, leads to understanding.
According to the verse above, the mark of discipleship is obedience to the teachings of Jesus. The by-product of that trust displayed in obedience understanding and freedom. The old hymn had it right. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
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