Teaching Obedience & Learning to Obey

“Then Jesus came to them andsaid, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore goand make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father andof the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I havecommanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’”(Matthew 28:18-20).

It is relatively easy toteach and to learn the commands of God. These commands are made up of sentencesthat can be memorized. The Christian church has been teaching the commands forcenturies.

I will now misquote verse 20:"and teaching them all of the commands I commanded you."

Here is it corrected:"teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Icannot teach obedience to commands as easily as I teach commands. Butthat is what we are told to do.

How can I teach obedience? Bybeing obedient myself.

Paul did not hesitate toteach obedience this way:

“Even though you have tenthousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ JesusI became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who isfaithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus,which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians4:15-17).

Paul was an example to beimitated. Timothy was an example to be imitated. These examples agreed withPaul's teaching. His teaching could teach commands. His example couldteach obedience.

“Do not cause anyone to stumble,whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everybody inevery way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that theymay be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1Corinthians 10:32-11:1).

Paul gives the command (verse32); then he gives himself as an example (verse 33); then he gives a reason forhis example. After that, he gives a command to follow his example, which isimitating.

Do you want to learn to obey?Follow an example who obeys. Do you want to teach obedience? Be an example ofobedience.

“Oh, that their hearts wouldbe inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might gowell with them and their children forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29).

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