I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
The middle three letters of the word obedience are ‘die’. They are very significant. The world’s philosophy says, live for self; but God’s Word says, die to self. Dying to self expresses the true essence of obedience in which we take up our cross and follow Christ. Thus Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
I remember seeing an illustration on a whiteboard where the letter “I” from this verse was written in bold in the centre. With just a small stroke of the pen the “I” was transformed into a cross which became the centre focus.
The Greek word for obedience is hupakouo. It is a compound word that means literally “to listen under’. It carried with it the thought of submission. We die to self and submit ourselves to His way of doing things. Jesus said:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (ESV)
Following is obedience.
The story is told that when Augustine was still without God and without hope, Paul’s words in Romans 13:14 brought conviction:
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts. Romans 13:14 (KJV)
Augustine acknowledged his sinfulness, accepted Jesus as his Saviour, and became a different person. His entire outlook on life began to change because of his new nature. One day he had to return to his old haunts in Rome. As he walked along, a promiscuous woman whose company he had formerly enjoyed began calling, “Augustine, Augustine, it is I!” He took one look and shuddered. Augustine took flight with the woman in pursuit of him crying out the same words, “Augustine, it is I.” The story concludes with Augustine shouting back to her, “It is you, but it is not I.” He had found the secret of Paul’s words, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. “
George Müller, when questioned about his spirituality, responded simply, “One day George Müller died.” He said, “There was a day when I died, utterly died – died to George Müller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends – and since then I have only to show myself approved to God.”
Have we truly understood the heart of obedience?