August 13th, 2025
by Jeremy Erb
by Jeremy Erb
The Paradox of Obedience: Finding Freedom in Surrender
In a world that champions autonomy and celebrates rebellion, the concept of obedience often leaves a bitter taste in our mouths. We've been conditioned to view rules as oppressive, authority as suspect, and personal freedom as the ultimate goal. But what if this perspective is fundamentally flawed? What if true freedom is found not in breaking the rules, but in keeping them?
This counterintuitive idea challenges our cultural norms, yet it's a theme that resonates throughout the pages of Scripture. Consider the words of C.S. Lewis, who wrote, "I was not born to be free. I was born to adore and obey." At first glance, this statement might make us recoil. But upon deeper reflection, it offers a profound truth about our purpose and the path to genuine fulfillment.
The story of King Saul in 1 Samuel provides a powerful illustration of the consequences of partial obedience. God had commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites, a group that had earned divine judgment for their actions against Israel. Saul obeyed... sort of. He defeated the Amalekites but spared their king and kept the best of their livestock. In Saul's mind, he had followed God's instructions. But God saw it differently.
Through the prophet Samuel, God declared, "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:22-23). This passage reveals a crucial truth: partial obedience is still disobedience. When we pick and choose which parts of God's commands to follow, we're not truly submitting to His authority. We're elevating our own judgment above His.
It's easy to rationalize our disobedience, isn't it? We convince ourselves that our intentions are good, that we're not hurting anyone, that God surely wouldn't mind this small compromise. But Saul's story warns us of the danger in this thinking. His partial obedience cost him his kingdom and ultimately led to his downfall.
The irony is that in trying to maintain control, Saul lost everything. He feared the people more than he feared God, and in doing so, he forfeited the very position God had given him. This begs the question: what are we holding onto that God is asking us to surrender? What "precious" things in our lives are we refusing to let go of, even when we know they're not aligned with God's will?
The good news is that we have a perfect example of obedience in Jesus Christ. Where Saul failed, Jesus succeeded. In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the prospect of a brutal death, Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). This complete surrender to the Father's will led not to Jesus' downfall, but to His exaltation. Through His obedience, even to the point of death on a cross, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9).
This is the paradox at the heart of the Christian faith: that in losing our lives, we find them; in surrendering our will to God's, we discover true freedom. It's a concept that goes against every instinct of our fallen nature, yet it's the key to experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised.
But let's be honest – obedience isn't easy. It often requires us to go against the grain of our culture and even our own desires. It demands trust in a God whose ways are higher than our ways and whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Yet, as we learn to trust and obey, we find that God's commands are not burdensome chains, but rather the very means by which we experience His love and grace.
The Psalmist understood this when he wrote, "I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free" (Psalm 119:32). There's a liberation that comes from aligning our will with God's. When we stop fighting against His authority and start embracing it, we discover a peace and purpose that transcends our circumstances.
So, how's your obedience? Are there areas in your life where you're holding back, rationalizing partial obedience? Maybe it's in your relationships, your finances, your thought life, or your career choices. Whatever it is, God is inviting you to trust Him fully, to surrender completely.
Remember, obedience isn't about earning God's love – that's already secured through Christ's work on the cross. Rather, obedience is our loving response to a God who has given us everything. It's the path to experiencing the fullness of life He intends for us.
As we navigate a culture that increasingly views authority with suspicion and personal autonomy as the highest good, let's dare to be different. Let's embrace the countercultural idea that true freedom is found in submission to the One who created us and knows us best. Let's trust that when God asks us to let go of something, it's because He has something far better in store.
In the words of the old hymn, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." This simple truth, so out of step with our modern sensibilities, remains the key to experiencing the joy, peace, and purpose we all long for.
Today, may we have the courage to surrender fully to God's will, trusting that His plans for us are good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2). In doing so, we might just discover that the obedience we once feared is actually the dance God created us for – a beautiful rhythm of trust, surrender, and abundant life.
In a world that champions autonomy and celebrates rebellion, the concept of obedience often leaves a bitter taste in our mouths. We've been conditioned to view rules as oppressive, authority as suspect, and personal freedom as the ultimate goal. But what if this perspective is fundamentally flawed? What if true freedom is found not in breaking the rules, but in keeping them?
This counterintuitive idea challenges our cultural norms, yet it's a theme that resonates throughout the pages of Scripture. Consider the words of C.S. Lewis, who wrote, "I was not born to be free. I was born to adore and obey." At first glance, this statement might make us recoil. But upon deeper reflection, it offers a profound truth about our purpose and the path to genuine fulfillment.
The story of King Saul in 1 Samuel provides a powerful illustration of the consequences of partial obedience. God had commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites, a group that had earned divine judgment for their actions against Israel. Saul obeyed... sort of. He defeated the Amalekites but spared their king and kept the best of their livestock. In Saul's mind, he had followed God's instructions. But God saw it differently.
Through the prophet Samuel, God declared, "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:22-23). This passage reveals a crucial truth: partial obedience is still disobedience. When we pick and choose which parts of God's commands to follow, we're not truly submitting to His authority. We're elevating our own judgment above His.
It's easy to rationalize our disobedience, isn't it? We convince ourselves that our intentions are good, that we're not hurting anyone, that God surely wouldn't mind this small compromise. But Saul's story warns us of the danger in this thinking. His partial obedience cost him his kingdom and ultimately led to his downfall.
The irony is that in trying to maintain control, Saul lost everything. He feared the people more than he feared God, and in doing so, he forfeited the very position God had given him. This begs the question: what are we holding onto that God is asking us to surrender? What "precious" things in our lives are we refusing to let go of, even when we know they're not aligned with God's will?
The good news is that we have a perfect example of obedience in Jesus Christ. Where Saul failed, Jesus succeeded. In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the prospect of a brutal death, Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). This complete surrender to the Father's will led not to Jesus' downfall, but to His exaltation. Through His obedience, even to the point of death on a cross, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9).
This is the paradox at the heart of the Christian faith: that in losing our lives, we find them; in surrendering our will to God's, we discover true freedom. It's a concept that goes against every instinct of our fallen nature, yet it's the key to experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised.
But let's be honest – obedience isn't easy. It often requires us to go against the grain of our culture and even our own desires. It demands trust in a God whose ways are higher than our ways and whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Yet, as we learn to trust and obey, we find that God's commands are not burdensome chains, but rather the very means by which we experience His love and grace.
The Psalmist understood this when he wrote, "I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free" (Psalm 119:32). There's a liberation that comes from aligning our will with God's. When we stop fighting against His authority and start embracing it, we discover a peace and purpose that transcends our circumstances.
So, how's your obedience? Are there areas in your life where you're holding back, rationalizing partial obedience? Maybe it's in your relationships, your finances, your thought life, or your career choices. Whatever it is, God is inviting you to trust Him fully, to surrender completely.
Remember, obedience isn't about earning God's love – that's already secured through Christ's work on the cross. Rather, obedience is our loving response to a God who has given us everything. It's the path to experiencing the fullness of life He intends for us.
As we navigate a culture that increasingly views authority with suspicion and personal autonomy as the highest good, let's dare to be different. Let's embrace the countercultural idea that true freedom is found in submission to the One who created us and knows us best. Let's trust that when God asks us to let go of something, it's because He has something far better in store.
In the words of the old hymn, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." This simple truth, so out of step with our modern sensibilities, remains the key to experiencing the joy, peace, and purpose we all long for.
Today, may we have the courage to surrender fully to God's will, trusting that His plans for us are good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2). In doing so, we might just discover that the obedience we once feared is actually the dance God created us for – a beautiful rhythm of trust, surrender, and abundant life.
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