Obedient

"He was obedient."

I HAVE LIVED as a wallflower my entire life. That may sound like a weird statement to make, but I’m going somewhere with it. I’m content in the background. I’d rather say nothing and there be joy than speak up and anything I say cause upset. I’ve learned to let go of my feelings and prefer others. Now, all of that said, I have things that ruffle my feathers, and in the last three years, they have been ruffled a lot. I’ve had to take a look at my attitude and deal with my reactions.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

There is something to be said for this. We defend our right to feel things rather than put them on the altar. We can be angry if we want, depressed if we want, arrogant if we want. Truth is, all of those and the other products of the mind are now in the Spirit’s hands. We go to church on Sunday and Wednesday and special occasions in between, and we’re all sword-swinging, Word-quoting, people of God, pumping ourselves up with a vision of Jesus as the War-Winning King. And He is that. But we miss His humbleness. We miss that what got Him there was more than just being God. He was obedient, submissive, everything He did, not only done because He HAD TO BE humble, but because He IS humble.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29 AMPC)

Humbleness of mind is an instruction of Scripture, and in Colossians 3:12 where it’s given to us, it is defined as “a deep sense of one’s (moral) littleness.” Take that now and apply it to Jesus, who is Everything. He knew who He was when hanging on the cross, but what mattered was that He hung there for you. He didn’t rehearse who He’d been and what He’d done, so that others could hear it and change their minds. He didn’t shout, “I am the CHRIST!” end-to-end. What He said was, “I forgive them (Luke 23:34),” and to the Father, “Into your hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46).” He forgave and submitted His life to the Father’s plan. He then took the thief with Him to Paradise (Luke 23:43).

Meanwhile, we’ve prepared a speech of our qualifications, our calling, our abilities. We’ve created websites and social media. Don’t misunderstand me. God uses these things on our behalf. I have had to promote myself at times, and it’s weird feeling to me. Behind it, though, is trust in God to do what I cannot. He causes what I write to get to people. I like to know people read what He’s saying through me, but it isn’t about me. It never has been and really, really isn’t now. What I want is to please Him and for you to know Him. For pride of accomplishment to be to you what it is for Jesus, who was even humbled by His Resurrection.

No one saw it, not even the guards they’d posted. His Father took His broken body and healed it and raised Him back to life again in it. Psalm 22:14-17 speaks to me:

“They are pouring me out like water. All my bones have become separate. My heart is becoming soft like butter. It is changing to milk inside me. My mouth is dry, like a bit of broken pot. My tongue is sticking to the roof of my mouth. You laid me down in the dirt of death … Sharp points are in my hands and feet. I can count all my bones.” (EasyEnglish)

Isaiah 52:14 tells us His visage was so marred people were astonished. Isaiah 53:12 says He “hath poured out his soul unto death.” His soul. His body died, but it was because He gave His soul, all His wants and desires, to the Father, who made them into what they should be. Here is our renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2). We can’t change our thoughts through self-effort. It takes the power of heaven to change our desires, our want-to’s, and to fill us with the love and joy and patience it takes to see things through.

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Because Jesus saw the joy of the cross. He saw healing and deliverance and restoration on the other side of physical death. He knew an end to the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and the devil himself (Hebrews 2:14). He realized His seat in the glory He’d had with God before the world was (John 17:5). The pain took second place to accomplishment, and accomplishment second place to honor and virtue, to holiness. For from His action, from His peace of mind in that hour, would come millions restored to the goodness of God.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)

We must put our needs in God’s hands. Our physical needs, food and clothing, for the Father knows them and supplies them (Matthew 6:32-33). Our need for certainty, to know we’re where we’re supposed to be and what we’ve done is successful. Our uncertainties, where we’ve messed up or others didn’t see and appreciate our work. In humbleness of mind, we rely on God to make us into who we are in Him, both in our own view and in the view of other people. Because when it comes down to it. Jesus was hated, mocked, and scorned. They shook their heads and cried out for His death, then observed it with self-righteousness, and denied His Resurrection.

He is Savior and King of Kings anyway.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Photo by Kunj Parekh on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com