There are so many thoughts running through my head with this devotion. First, Tripp’s opening statement rings a bell:
Obedience is an act of thankful worship, not a fearful means of trying to gain favor with God.
When I was a kid, obedience to my dad was expected. A failure to be brought dire consequences. It was a “do it or else” situation. Obviously, that tainted me and how I saw God.
There is nothing I can do to gain God’s favor:
- I will never be righteous enough.
- My thoughts will never be pure enough.
- My desires will never be holy enough.
- My words will never be clean enough.
- My choices and actions will never be God-honoring enough.
Tripp says it so well that I can’t say it any better: “I don’t need to obey to gain God’s favor. Jesus has gained God’s favor on my behalf. So my obedience is never a fearful payment (note: “I better or else”), but a hymn of gratitude to a God who met me where I was and did for me what I could not have done for myself.”
“Father, what a refreshing take on obedience. It is not “do it or else.” It is not a “fear the wrath” kind of thing. Instead it is a hymn of gratitude for a gracious God’s love for me. A hymn of thanksgiving for a debt I could not pay, paid by Someone who had no reason to do so. May my life be a song to you- a song of love, laughter, grace, mercy, and gratitude to You and sung by others as well.”
I love the image of obedience to God as a ‘hymn of gratitude.’ May that phrase stay with us all.
Blessings, Bill!
The bad news… There is nothing, absolutely nothing… I can do that will gain me favor with God. I cannot make up for what I have already done, am doing, or will continue to do.
The good news… I don’t have to.
Jesus already did. Jesus went beyond balancing the scales for payment. Jesus didn’t give just enough. Jesus tipped the scales so much in favor of Grace and Mercy that the weight of all the world’s collective sin, past, present, and future is counted immeasurable when weighted against what Jesus did.
—Now that is a reason to worship through obedience… Not out of fear, but out of humble appreciation and thanksgiving.
Ryan S.