Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 Peter 1:22,23
In our world, there’s been a movement to divide words into two separate groups. There are good words that we can use freely and without fear. And then there are those words that are off limits. Words that we dare not say in public. Words that will bring down everyone’s opinion of us.
If we use one of these words on social media, we’ll instantly be labeled as a hater. Someone who doesn’t love or accept everyone. Someone who’s uncaring and insensitive. All sorts of angry and bitter things will fill the internet, convincing everyone that we’re not to be trusted. That we’ve “turned to the dark side.”
So, here goes. I’m about to use one of those words. A really bad, bad word. A word that’s been identified as unkind and unloving. A word that that’s so offensive and off-limit that no one dares to say it. And to write about it is like picking up that Monopoly card that says, “Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.”
The word that strikes fear into one and all is that terrible and fearful word. The “O” word. Obedience. There, I said it. I’d understand if you immediately turned away or even deleted this. You might even go to the trouble of clearing your computer or phone of all it’s memory.
But obedience is a word that we need to bring back into our lives. It needs to be reintroduced into our thinking and conversations. It’s time to bring the idea of obedience out of the dark closet of our lives and into the light of everyday life.
And you know why? Because we’re all obedient to something or someone. We may deny it. We might jump up and down in anger about it. We might shout that we’re free to do anything we want. But the fact is that we’re all obedient. All of us have some kind of list inside that we follow. As we’re using our words, thoughts, and actions, they all get filtered through our list to see if we’re being obedient to it.
Peter telling these people a very simple but powerful truth. The way to living a purified life is through obedience to the truth. This started when they accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. They gave him all their sin, shame, and guilt[1]. And in exchange Jesus gave them all his forgiveness and righteousness[2]. And all this come through faith – believing that Jesus really did this[3].
Peter’s words about purification is something that happened in the past and is completely done. Period. And while there’s nothing more to be paid or accomplished, they naturally want to keep on obeying to please the one who loves them. Who died for them. There’s nothing too much for God to ask because they so desperately want to please Him through humble obedience.
The same is true for you and me. When we receive Jesus and his payment for all our sins, we also received his righteousness. When we do this, we will turn away from trying to fix ourselves. To do enough good things to offset the bad stuff we’ve done, said, and thought. We want to please God with all our words, thoughts, actions, and attitudes.
When we’re in love, there’s nothing that we won’t do to please the one we love. There ain’t no mountain to high to climb if it brings happiness and pleasure to the one we love. We’ll go way out of our way just to delight them.
After watching one of our favorite chefs cook up some sweet and sour stir fried pork with pineapple, I asked Mary Ann if she’d like to try it. When she said yes, I went into action. Not just any recipe would do, it had to be the one we saw. After printing out this special recipe, I began getting everything together. I even went to four different stores looking for Shaoxing rice wine[4]. After following the recipe very carefully, I put the meal on the table. When Mary Ann gave her approval, I knew it was a success. The recipe was marked with the Mary Ann seal of approval and saved to be remade.
Why did I go through all this? Why didn’t I just download any recipe? Why not have some sweet and sour delivered from the local Chinese carryout? Why just use any vinegar? Why was I willing to not do what I wanted to do and “obey” the recipe so carefully?
The answer is really so very simple, but it’s so very powerful. It’s the kind of answer that can move mountains in our lives. Why did I do all this and more? Because I wanted so desperately to please the one I love. I volunteered to joyfully do anything that not only would please them but be for their joy and enjoyment. Yes, the “O” Word has been used to force people to do things they didn’t want to do. To take power away. To enslave many for the benefit of the few. But God’s use of the “O” word is very different. It’s not forcing anyone to do anything. God’s call to obedience starts with the fact that he first loved us. And because he reached out to us through Jesus, we want to do what pleases him. Not ourselves. Now that’s a new and exciting way to think about the “O” Word.
Noodling Questions
Describe a time when obedience saved you.
Why does the word obedience send shivers up our spine?
How does fixing ourselves never get us anywhere? Explain.
[1] 1 John 1:9
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:21
[3] Romans 3:22
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