The Obedient Christian

All believers know that we are supposed to obey Christ. I mean, isn't that simply part of being a Christ-follower -- a Christ-ian? So we seek to avoid sin and seek to do good and all that stuff. Paul told the Philippians to "work out your salvation" (Php 2:12), and we aim to do that. In theological terms, our aim is sanctification -- becoming holy as He is holy -- and that's where we are heading. And that's good.

Often, though, I think we miss a very important facet of this obedience. In Hebrews we read, "Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it" (Heb 4:1). Notice the juxtaposition of terms there -- "let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed ..." There is a "we" sense here. After urging us to bear up under God's discipline (Heb 12:5-11), the commands are "lift drooping hands" and "strive for peace with everyone" and "see to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God" (Heb 12:12-17). Again, a "we" factor.

Very clearly in Scripture, we're not in this alone. We're not followers of Christ simply on our own. We're not to merely be obedient for ourselves; we're also to look out for each other. We're to "consider how to stir up one another to love and good works ... encouraging one another" (Heb 10:24-25). We're not alone in this. We have Christ (Heb 13:5) and we have God at work in us (Php 2:13). But we're also part of a vast "one another" with the calling to exhort and comfort and love and serve and ... lots of "one anothers." The obedient Christian will indeed pursue perfection (Php 3:8-12), but we also need to be diligently ministering to those around us, especially those in the family of God. It's a primary calling from Christ (John 13:35).