Radical Obedience

James 2:21 (AMP) Was our father Abraham not [shown to be] justified by works [of obedience which expressed his faith] when he offered Isaac his son on the altar [as a sacrifice to God]?

When I think of the fathers and mothers of faith in the Bible I think of radical obedience. Many years ago, before my husband and I were the lead pastors of our church, we were associate pastors and then assistant pastors. In all those years we never stopped connecting with people in our church. I remember this one precious sister in the Lord that also volunteered at the church. She is older than me, but we always enjoyed each other company and building each other and encouraging each other. Our catch phrase between each other was “radical obedience.” She has since moved six hours away to Florida. Whenever I’m in the area, I make it a point to reach out, and we often find ourselves in tears, reflecting on all that God has accomplished through our shared commitment to radical obedience.

You may be asking what does radical obedience look like? Let me give you are really good example from one of my favorite people in the Bible, Elijah. Read 1 Kings 17:8-15 but I am going to summarize it for you. There was a drought in the land, and Elijah had been living by a brook, drinking its water while ravens brought him food. Then God tells him to rise up and go to Zarephath which belongs to Sidon. This is a Phoenician city that worshiped idols and pagan gods. God tells Elijah to go into a Gentile nation, but He is not done. Then God also tells him that a widow in that city will provide for him. The first instance of radical obedience here is Elijah going to a pagan nation and a Gentile widow woman is who he is to approach at the word of the Lord. If you know anything about the history of the Israelites, then you know God was telling him to go to a lowly place for provision.

The second person of significance is the widow woman in Zarephath. When Elijah met her, she was gathering sticks to make a fire, preparing to bake the last bit of flour and oil for herself and her son, believing it would be their final meal. She had already set up in her mind that her and her son were going to starve to death. Little did she know that radical obedience was going to change that. Elijah asked her to first make a loaf of bread for him, and then for herself and her son. He said that if she would do this it would not run out before the drought ended.

1 Kings 17:15-16 (AMP) She went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, in accordance with the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah.

Are we radically obedient to His Word? Do we really believe what He says He will do? Do we have faith that His precepts have not disappeared? When I read that our God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). I truly believe it. You may say that scripture says Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Yet did not Jesus also say that He only does what His Father does?

1 Peter 1:24-25 (AMP) For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Here Peter is quoting Isaiah 40:6-8. Do we trust that the Word of God is real? Abraham trusted God that He would provide an heir even if he had to sacrifice Isaac. That took radical obedience. When James wrote about this instance, he was referring to our faith being seen. It matters what we do. My actions should reflect my faith. Now there are some fruity, nutty and flaky folks out there and they do like to draw attention. God is not weird. Radical obedience is not being weird. Radical obedience is just faith in action. It looks radical because it is not common. It does not take a special person to have radical obedience.

1 Peter 2: 5-9 (AMP) You [believers], like living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen stone, a precious (honored) Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will never be disappointed [in his expectations].” This precious value, then, is for you who believe [in Him as God’s only Son—the Source of salvation]; but for those who disbelieve, “The [very] stone which the builders rejected has become the chief Cornerstone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Salvation is more than a prayer to get ourselves into heaven. Salvation means taking fully all of whom Christ is. He is our Prince of Wholeness. He is our Prince of Peace. He is our Eternal Father. He is Immanuel, God with us. This means that I am to conform to His image. Reflecting Christ takes radical obedience. This priesthood that He is building up is more than just me. When we reject His Body, we are rejecting Him. A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense is not a living stone, it is a dead one. Believers are to be living stones, holy and dedicated. There is an action to our faith. Will you make that decision today to look at your faith as not just common anymore, but you are radical obedient. Radical obedience is vibrant!

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (AMP) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.

Abba, Father, Creator, You are Wonderful and Marvelous. You are Holy and Worthy of all Praise and Honor. Thank You for Your Son, our Prince of Wholeness. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, our Teacher. Although You have given us freewill with our salvation, we have taken it for granted and treated our salvation as common. We thank You for showing us what radical obedience, true faith, looks like with the reflection of Your faithfulness to Your Word. We do not take the position of priesthood lightly. We no longer want to be stumbling around groping at strands of Your Word. We are now taking the fullness of Your Word. We know this may look radical to others. Just like Your Love, Your Word never fails and never returns empty. Let us be people of radical obedience. Let us love deeper. Let us grow deeper. Let us obey willfully and joyfully. We choose joy today. We choose hope today. We choose hope today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.