There is a common theme that seems to transcend all of the Biblical accounts of great men and women…obedience. Obedience seems to be a huge factor for all of the people that were great in the eyes of the Lord.
Look at Noah in Genesis…he was 600 years old before the flood came (Genesis 7:6). The Bible tells us that the people mocked him – they had never seen water fall from the heavens before, why should they believe this crazy man? And one that was over 500 years old? But Noah did not waver. God had spoken to him, given him specific directions, and he not only stood firm in his beliefs, he acted on it! He was completely obedient to what God instructed him.
Look at Moses, who got his instructions from. a burning, speaking bush! God chose to get his attention thru the insane, and then use him to do the insane. Think about how unsure he must have been the first time he walked into Pharaoh’s court. And then, when he watched Pharaoh’s men do some of the same “tricks” he could do. How easy it would have been at any time to run away from his calling, to just slip into the crowd and escape back to the countryside
Think about the disciples…12 men that had to walk away from their families, their friends, their jobs (most likely the only income their family had) and give up their entire lives to follow this stranger that was already ruffling feathers with the community leaders.
So what is one of the biggest things we struggle with in our Christian walk? Obedience. And yet what is God asking for? Obedience.
Even Jesus had to walk in obedience. Hebrews 5:8-9 says, “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.” And Philippians 2:6-11 says, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
In order to do great things for God, we must first humble ourselves in obedience.. Greatness is always preceded by obedience.
