FOR OBEDIENCE
- UnstoppableRevKev
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
📖Scripture: “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” – 1 Peter 1:2
🔎Reflection: Election, redemption, expiation, justification, sanctification, and God's foreknowledge all point to this: obedience to Jesus Christ. Salvation is not the finish line; it’s the starting line of a life submitted to the King (John 14:15). Peter knew the heavy cost and consequence of disobedience—he once denied even knowing Jesus three times. So here, in 1 Peter, he urges the elect, exiles of the Dispersion, to live lives of active allegiance to Christ for the glory of God the Father.
Obedience is not legalistic rule-following; it’s the fruit of regeneration (John 14:21) and the mark of true discipleship (Luke 6:46-49). Obedience involves personal holiness (1 Pet. 1:14-16), which isn’t manufactured morality, but rather the manifestation of Christ’s imputed righteousness as the Fruit of the Spirit. Obedience is joy-filled sacrificial service (Mark 10:43-45), which manifests as our bold witness (Acts 1:8, 4:19-20). The Spirit sanctifies us not to kick back in spiritual arrival or retirement, but as commissioned ambassadors of Christ on Gospel mission: gathering, growing, giving, and going in the power and unity of the GOSPEL to the glory of God the Father.
Obedience is both a privilege and the proof of authentic faith (James 2:17; 2 Cor 13:5). It’s how we eagerly await Christ’s return (Heb. 9:28)... living as commissioned ambassadors, saints, citizens of heaven, and functionally devoted members of His Body & Bride eagerly awaiting His return.
🤺Action: Ask the Holy Spirit to examine your life for areas of partial or delayed obedience. Commit to one concrete step of obedience today that aligns with God’s Word:
(See: 2Co 7:9-10; Ps 51:5; Rom 3:10-12; Jn 3:3-8; Tit 3:5; Eph 2:1-5; Ac 2:37-38; Rom 5:1-2; 2Co 5:17; Php 2:12-13; 1Th 4:3-4; Gal 5:16-25; Col 3:5-10; Rom 8:12-14; Heb 12:1-2; Jas 1:22-25; 1Pe 1:13-16; 2Pe 1:5-8; 1Jn 3:2-3; Rom 8:29-30; 1Co 15:51-53; Php 3:20-21).
Pray for the opportunity and boldness to share the pure and simple GOSPEL with someone this week as an act of obedience and allegiance to Christ. Note that the GOSPEL isn’t synonymous with our testimony, which is not wrong or “bad,” but they aren’t the same thing. The Bible reveals the GOSPEL is the power of God unto salvation, not our personal testimony. Sharing the GOSPEL isn’t the same as pointing out a lost person’s sin or need (true, but not the GOSPEL). Sharing the GOSPEL isn’t about what it accomplishes either. The Apostle Paul revealed the GOSPEL most succinctly in 2 Tim 2:8, “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel.”
🙏Prayer: LORD Jesus, You are my Master, Shepherd, and King. Please forgive me where and when I claim to follow You, but, in reality, merely follow familiar religious culture and comfortable worldly patterns. I do NOT want to ignore or resist Your truth, commands, or Spirit. Holy Spirit, please teach, strengthen, and empower me to obey the Father’s will - promptly and fully. My life is surrendered to You for Christ’s mission, so that others may see and glorify the Heavenly Father. Until You return, LORD Jeuss, please keep me faithful in the greater works that You prepared in advance for me to walk in as my new way of life. I pray this in Your holy and precious name, Amen.
Click the following link for a short video version:
Blessings & love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
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