Why is obedience so important in this Christian life? Now that we have been saved by grace, isn’t blind obedience just self-righteousness? We live in a society that hates words like submission, authority, law, and judgment. Isn’t submission a sign of weakness; authority a sign of dictatorship; law a sign of legalism, and judgment too “judgy”? Or have we been believing a lie?
The book of Habakkuk begins and ends with the prophet's prayers to his God. Upon discovering the Book of the Law in the Lord's temple, King Josiah instituted a revival among the Israelite people. He burned and destroyed every practice that went against the words God revealed to him in His word, and the people followed (2Kings 22,23). Upon his death, however, the people quickly went back to their futile ways of chasing after wind, thus begins the book of Habakkuk.
Imagine the life of Jesus and His mother Mary. There were some who must have known Mary was with child when she married Joseph, since she gave birth to a fully developed, healthy baby. There must have been some who carried the notion that Jesus was a child conceived out of wedlock. From before His birth, there may have been some who passed judgement based on the way things seemed. Have you been accused of evil, when you knew your Creator was doing a work? Accused of wrong doing, because of how things seemed? Our Savior has. He understands the human emotions that might come up, when one has a moment of being accused when they know the accusation holds no ground. “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.
From the time Christ walked the earth some 2,000 years ago until now, His word and His gospel has been a stumbling block to Jews who follow rules, and foolishness to Gentiles who follow their own wisdom (1Co 1:23, Galatians 5:11). “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10.
Jesus warned, “Beware practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 6:1) Throughout the next several verses, Jesus gives His hearers examples of men who flaunted their deeds to be noticed by others in attempts to be recognized as holy.
