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January 3
THE
WAY OF OBEDIENCE
by Ray Prinzing
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by
the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous." [Romans
5:19]
While we have our word
"obedience" in this verse, we also have it in its negative form, as
"disobedience," so that rather than having a SUBMISSIVE HEARKENING,
the negative is A HEARING AMISS or, a wrong hearing. Since
obedience is a right hearing and then correct action thereto,
disobedience is simply a wrong hearing or a hearing amiss, and then
acting in kind. But disobedience can also include listening to
a wrong voice, the voice of a stranger, so that the action, or
obedience then rendered is to the wrong source. This Paul
explained when he wrote, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield
yourselves as servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness."
[Romans 6:16].
For by one man's
disobedience, by his listening to the voice of a stranger, many were
made sinners. Adam and Eve listened to the voice of the
bestial system of this world, as represented by the serpent, and
found that sin was at the door, and death by sin.
But, by the obedience of
One, our Lord Jesus Christ, shall many be made righteous. Yet,
not as by one that sinned, so the gift - for there is a MUCH MORE
quality and quantity in the obedience unto life. "For since
by man came death, by man also the resurrection of the dead.
For as by Adam all die, even so by Christ shall all be made alive."
(1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
Every time we hear amiss
we will propagate disobedience. But every time we hear the
True Voice we will increase the fruits of obedience. Such is
the challenge before us, until all of self that would respond to the
world is brought to an end, and then we become a part of HIS
OBEDIENCE which brings us into a daily, experimental participation
of His resurrection life.
Perfect in obedience,
sealing up the sum,
They are the true expression of His kingdom come.
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