Holiness and Obedience

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“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”

1 Peter 1:22

Our earthly plans and their outcomes matter little in the grand scheme of things. Our goals, the accumulation of power, and things that we spend so much time on may have less importance than we may be willing to admit. As Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 1:24 “All men are like grass, and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” What does matter? Obedience to the truth. Which truth you ask?

The truth that Jesus is Lord.

The realization that Jesus is Lord puts our lives into perspective. Suddenly our own striving is put on the scale next to the eternal and is found lacking. But God doesn’t leave us at a dead end. Jesus opens the way for a relationship with God that we were made for. Embracing that relationship is the key to a life lived well. Because Jesus was raised from the dead and forgives our sins, we can believe in God. (1 Peter 1:21) The question is will we? Will we believe in a God who demands our utmost loyalty? Will we believe in a God who asks us to love as he loves, even laying down our lives? Will we believe in a God who doesn’t care about how we look or how much money we make because he can provide everything we need? Will we believe in a God who requires that we use our will to follow him?

Action:

Ask the Holy Spirit to search you, to know your inmost being, and to reveal to you the areas in your life where Jesus is not Lord.

Has God spoken to you? Take a moment to reflect on what God wants you to do. Turn it into an “I will” action and share it with someone. For instance:

  • Share with someone: “I feel that Jesus is not Lord in my life in this area … will you pray for me?”
  • Encourage someone: “Recognizing Jesus’ Lordship in my life makes this difference (example) in this way (example).”

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About the author

Profile photo for John Hall

John Hall became the Executive Director at Mission Central (formerly Missions Fest Vancouver) in 2014. In 1997 he, his wife and brother in-law started Eco Outdoor Sports in Metro Vancouver. In 2003 the business was sold, and his family entered a seven-year ‘desert experience’. During that time the Lord impressed on John and his family the importance of hearing and obeying Jesus every day, something that he tries to integrate into everything he does. In 2010 God changed the family’s direction and led him to finish his degree at Regent College in preparation for life as a full-time missionary overseas. Although that ministry opportunity didn’t develop as planned a whole new perspective and participation-in Christ’s mission was born at Missions Fest Vancouver. It’s now a daily occurrence for John’s business background and theological training get a workout.

John and his wife Wei live in Richmond, BC. They have two wonderful adult girls. John completed his MA at Regent College in 2010.

Church
Church
The Tapestry Church (Richmond, BC)
Organization
Organization
Mission Central (Burnaby, BC) — Executive Director

Series: Hearing and Obeying—Devotionals

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Devotional

Count the Cost

Have you counted the cost of being a disciple? Go to Jesus, lay out your concerns before him, and ask for his perspective on your struggle.Read more Read more...

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Love Your Enemies

If you have an enemy in your life, if someone hates you, consider how Jesus is asking you to go to them? Hearing and obeying requires embodied action.Read more Read more...

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Idols and Mighty Deeds

God desires that he is the only one to whom we direct our worship, and one of the reasons is so that His power can be demonstrated in our lives.Read more Read more...

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Obedience In, Joy Out

God’s economy doesn’t work in a paradigm of effort in - reward out. In the paradigm of hearing and obeying everything rests on love and intimacy.Read more Read more...

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