And so, Paul sums up the book of Romans in this final paragraph. And what a paragraph it is!

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It includes the truth of God’s power that is able to save us through the gospel of Jesus. This is the proclamation of Paul’s gospel that he has sacrificed the later part of his life for; he cannot separate the message of Jesus from the mission of his life. We find the unveiling of the revelation of Jesus, which was hidden throughout all of Scripture, Old and New Testaments, no longer hidden but revealed and spreading through the farthest reaches of the Roman world. (Yes, even to the Gentiles!) The supremacy of the wisdom of God and the insurmountable glory he is undeniably due is referenced here, and sandwiched amid all this wonder and glory, majesty, and revelation, a small phrase: “obedience that comes from faith.”

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Obedience – a word that usually meets with resistance in our minds and hearts, an act that we must be trained in, that doesn’t come naturally. Our natural tendencies aren't pretty. In fact, they are glaring in light of the gospel!  

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I don’t need to be trained to raise my voice during an argument. Holding my tongue in the middle of a disagreement – that’s obedience. Shopping at the mall for a new pair of shoes, that’s easy! Being a saver and good steward of my finances – obedience. We don’t send our dogs to obedience school to do what comes naturally, we send them to have their natural behaviors modified. Through correction and discipline, dogs learn to please their masters. But here’s the thing about obedience to Jesus, it’s because of his love that we want to obey.

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Let’s look back at the scripture for today – Paul says he hopes we come to an obedience that comes from faith! This is one of those areas where Jesus flips the script on us. This world says obedience comes from training, from working, from trying harder, pushing more. Jesus says, my word transforms your mind (Rom. 12:2). I’ll give you a new heart with new desires (Ezekial 11:19). If you love, then you’ll obey (John 14:23).

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When you and I are viewing the world and Jesus rightly in faith, through the realities of the gospel, and living our lives with him as our King, we can’t help but want to obey! The truth of Jesus, what he’s done, who he is, how he views me and you...If you and I can get a grasp, a glimpse of this, our natural inclinations will turn in his direction to his love and Kingship. These realizations of his love bow the knee like no strength of fleshly will could ever accomplish. It’s a love that Scripture tells us is greater than anything (1 Cor. 13:13).  

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It’s only when we start seeing life through entitlement, with the idea that our will rules, my wants trump yours, that we forget whose world this is and lose sight of who rightly rules. Is it me or you, or is it HIM (Read Job 38 if you’re unsure!)?

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The realization of the truth of his love calls us back – the verb love that was on display, fastened to the cross, over 2,000 years ago. Love in action on our behalf causes this obedience to be more natural in our living. Suddenly, there is a shift, a clarity that aligns us with the truth of his life, death, resurrection, and love. This clarity leaves us no choice but to be set on fire, sent on mission and living in humble obedience. Not perfectly, but dependently coming back for the forgiveness, strength, and assurance of the One who brought us to life.

Sweet Yeshua, I ask for your mercy and grace in my weakness and, yes, your love. Renew the reality of who you are and who I am in light of this. Allow your love to penetrate my fleshly ways like never before, bringing me into holy living for the benefit of the furthering of your Kingdom. May your perfect love that is greater than anything spur me and others to obedience. Obedience for our own good and for the testimony of faith in a King that deserves our all.