What Would Jesus Do? These four words propelled a segment of the population to think before they acted. It gave them a reason to stop for a few moments and reflect on their faith and their decisions. It created dialogue, both within the Christian community and within the individuals. And I think this kind of reflective posture is a good thing. We ought to be examining the reasons for our faith and actions. We should be a community of individuals who know why they do what they do. And that shouldn’t be because our culture tells us to do it.
If there is one thing I have learned in my lifetime it is this: our culture is heading to the lowest common denominator. It is not inspiring people to strive to be better, but to settle for the easiest and most convenient. Self-sacrifice and hard work are no longer the common values, the rewarded values, the esteemed values. We have it too easy. We have too many things given to us, well maybe not us, but some other people get way too much. Whether it is corporate handouts or generous tax breaks, our culture is no longer fair. And perhaps it never has been.
But if we want a life that has the LORD’s seal of approval and blessing, then we will have to seek out the hard way. We will have to choose the difficult. That is because, as John writes here, obedience is at the center of the life of faith. John has stated this truth in the preceding verses in the negative. Now he states it positively. Obey and God’s love is perfected in you and your life.
This does not mean that God’s love is imperfect unless we obey. It means that God’s love does not become fully realized until there is obedience. We might have a ticket to the Super Bowl, but if we don’t attend the game, the ticket does us no good. We don’t get to experience the noise of the crowd, the hush as the long pass flies through the air and the exhilaration when it is caught or dropped. You have to be at the game to get this.
In the same way, you get in the game when you obey. You can talk all you want about your love for the LORD, but it isn’t real until you obey. Obedience takes you from someone who talks a good talk to someone who actually participates. Obedience takes you from the living room to the 50 yard line. Obedience gets you the Gatorade bath.
If you want God’s love to reach God’s intended goal in your life, you must obey. Anything less than obedience leaves you short. And that is exactly how Jesus lived. He obeyed. He obeyed even when it meant giving up His innocent life and bearing the shame and humiliation that our sins brought Him.
Living as Jesus did does not mean that we must wear sandals. It doesn’t mean we can’t own a house or get married. It doesn’t mean we must be kosher in our eating. These trivial, externals are not the object of Jesus’ life. His life was about service to others and self-sacrifice. It was about doing what the Father told Him to do. He was under authority. His life was a selfless life.
But living a selfless life doesn’t mean a life without joy. In fact, obedience brings joy. Jesus celebrated life with enthusiasm. He participated in life’s important moments with others. He even made more wine after they had consumed the wine cellars contents. He wanted nothing to get in the way of the wedding of a man and woman. Their shortsighted planning could have been very embarrassing, but Jesus stepped in to help.
And our obedience signals, not just to the world, but to ourselves that we are in Him. When we obey it signals that we are vitally connected to Him. His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are His. And that witness happens when we obey. And especially when the obedience costs us what we would rather do. When we obey against our sinful, selfish desires, then we get a dose of the Spirit to strengthen and reinforce our decision.
So, you want joy in your life? Obey. There are so many things that are crystal clear in Scripture. Obey those things. And after you obey those things, then the others will become clearer. We are responsible to do what we know we should do. So do it.
The Arnold Journey 