THE NEED TO OBEY

Wednesday – May 1, 2024

Posted

“who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” – 1 Peter 1:2

William H. Willimon American theologian and bishop in the United Methodist Church who served the North Alabama Conference for eight years. He is Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry and Director of the Doctor of Ministry program at Duke Divinity School. 

In his book “Undone by Easter”, Dr. Willimon writes the following:

“I am still haunted by a long conversation I had with a man who was a member of one of my early congregations. . . . He had a stunning vision of the presence of the risen Christ . . . [and] had never told anyone about it before. . . . He explained, “The reason why I told no one was I was too afraid that it was true. And if it’s true that Jesus was really real, that he had come personally to me, what then? I’d have to change my whole life.”

It is through obedience in following Jesus Christ that we find all that our hearts desire. Today, in prayer, confess any sin in your life to Jesus and eagerly obey Him in all that you do.

"Only he who believes is obedient. Only he who is obedient, believes." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God’s Word: “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 7:21