obedience school
"I charge you to keep God's command without blame or reproach." —1 Timothy 6:14
The Lord charges us to obey Him. Pastors tell parishioners to obey the Lord. Parents command their children to obey. Christians who love each other charge each other to obey the Lord (see Jn 15:10).
However, we are naturally inclined to disobey, "do our own thing," and not listen to others, even to God Himself. By the Lord's death and our Baptism into His death (Rm 6:3), we have been given a new nature — one that is not fallen and not tending toward disobedience. However, we are repeatedly tempted to fall back into our old disobedient nature and not live and obey by faith.
First, we will obey the Lord and not fall into temptation if we fear the Lord Who is commanding us to obey Him. How dare we refuse to obey the Creator of all things (see 1 Tm 6:13), "the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords Who alone has immortality and Who dwells in unapproachable light"! (1 Tm 6:15-16)
Second, we will obey the Lord if we fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2), crucified and courageous (see 1 Tm 6:13).
Third, we will be much more likely to obey the Lord if we are well aware that "our Lord Jesus Christ shall appear" (1 Tm 6:14) a second and final time.
Live a life of obedience (1 Pt 1:2).
Prayer: Father, make me delight to obey You (Ps 40:9).
Promise: "The seed on good ground are those who hear the word in a spirit of openness, retain it, and bear fruit through perseverance." —Lk 8:15
Praise: Andrew exhorted his fellow martyrs: "We have received Baptism, entrance into the Church, and the honor of being called Christians. Yet what good will this do to us if we are Christians in name only and not in fact?"
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet, Obedience School.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, February 1, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 4, 1997