Thursday, February 25th, 2021
Hello friends,
The above photo was taken on February 24th, 2021 in western Indiana. A gorgeous Indiana sunset. I was driving home from visiting my dad when I noticed the beautiful colors dancing in the western sky. It took my breath away with its spectacular colors seeping into one another. Bravo to our Father in heaven, creator of all things.
The RADICAL purpose of Jesus’ ministry was to do one thing; to do the will of his Father. The first recorded words of Jesus were when he spoke to his mother in the Temple. Mary and Joseph had been looking for Jesus for three days after they had left Jerusalem and attended the feast of the Passover. They returned to the city and found Jesus in the Temple, when they stated their worries to him, Jesus replied with, “Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?” (Luke 2:49). Jesus’ whole life was about doing the will of the Father, his Father. His last words on the cross, Jesus remained steadfast and sure in his RADICAL purpose, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46).
In the Gospel of John, there are other examples of Jesus’ RADICAL purpose.
—John 5:19, “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees the Father doing.”
—John 10:37, “If I am not doing my Father’s work, there is no need to believe me…”
—John 14:24, “My word is not my own; it is the word of the one who sent me.”
Everything that Jesus did and said was done completely out of obedience to his Father. I believe, there’s much to be said about this obedience and why the scriptures talk about obeying and trusting God. In fact, according to, Bible Gateway (reference below) obedience to God is mentioned 8,454 times in the Bible!
Paul the Apostle, recorded these words in Romans 5:19, “For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” English Standard Version
Obedience: Definition in the Bible
- The general concept of obedience both in the Old and New Testamentrelates to hearing or hearkening to a higher authority.
- One of the Greek terms for obedience in the Bible conveys the idea of positioning oneself under someone by submitting to their authority and command.
- Another Greek word for obey in the New Testament means “to trust.”
- According to Holman’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, a succinct definition of biblical obedience is “to hear God’s Word and act accordingly.”
- Eerdman’s Bible Dictionary states, “True ‘hearing,’ or obedience, involves the physical hearing that inspires the hearer, and a belief or trust that in turn motivates the hearer to act in accordance with the speaker’s desires.”
- Thus, biblical obedience to God means to hear, trust, submit and surrender to God and his Word.
Let us all pause for at least 10 minutes and reflect upon Jesus’ RADICAL purpose and follow where he leads. Jesus, Show Me The Way!
“All that Jesus does we may also do.” —Henri J. M. Nouwen
Lenten M•I•C•R•O Practice for today:
~Start Seedlings Day 8
Plant seeds in small jars and place them in the light. Let them be physical reminders that we partner with God in creation.
💕Prayer 💞
~Charlotte, the Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
References:
Show Me The Way — Henri J.M.Nouwen • 1992 The Crossroad Publishing
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionary-of-bible-themes/8454-obedience-God
https://www.learnreligions.com/obedience-to-god-701962
(NJBV) New Jerusalem Bible Version/Translation
HOPE SEEKER 
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