A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"To Know - Obey"

Most of us have heard some form of the familiar proverbial saying, "the cart before the horse." No need to elaborate on the sound instruction offered in this saying. But, there is need of our addressing areas where we may be guilty of having the cart before the horse. There are aspects of our Christian walk that are greatly affected by our reversing the order of things. One such crucial area is the relationship between obedience and knowledge.

We have the concept that knowledge and understanding lead to obedience. If someone isn't obeying a certain law, teach them about the importance and reason for the law and then they will obey. At least, that is what we think. This carries over into our walk with Christ. We say, "Get to know Christ and then you will obey His Word." Similarly we think, if we help people understand the decrees of God, they will then obey them. It hasn't worked, for this is putting the cart before the horse.

Jesus gives the opposite instruction. He tells us in John 14:21; "Who ever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." Later in His High Priestly prayer Jesus prays; "I have revealed You to those You gave me out of the world. They are Yours; You gave them to me and the have obeyed Your Word. Now they know everything You have given me comes from You." (John 17:6-7) It is through obedience that knowledge comes. Our love for Jesus is expressed through our obedience. Through our obedience we come to know and understand. Jesus reveals Himself through our obedience. As Elton Trueblood notes, "The eyes of the soul are washed by obedience." Ruben Welch insightfully states, "I do not have to begin with assurance of who Jesus is and then come to obedience; rather, if I will obey, I will come to understand."

Such obedience requires nothing less than faith. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Indeed, such obedience cannot be accomplished without faith for, "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:1, 6) The glorious reality is, that as we obey in faith we come to know more and more of Jesus and His way. And the more we know Him the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we desire to obey.

Getting the "knowledge" cart before the "obedience" horse leaves us groping. In doing so we are striving to know God and His way through frail and finite human reason, which leaves us hungry and unfulfilled, without understanding and knowledge. Therefore, beloved, let us not seek to understand so that we will believe and obey. Let us believe and obey that we will know and understand.

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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