The Cost of Obedience
Major Bradley J. Caldwell
Retired Officer
USA Southern Territory
Scripture: Romans 3:23-25, 11:33-12:2; Ephesians 5:1-2
No Free Lunch
When you see the word “free” inviting you to try some marketed product, it is wise and perhaps even necessary to anticipate an unspoken cost associated with it. The adage “There is no such things as a free lunch” means that every transaction generates a cost, directly or indirectly. What then is the cost of obeying God?
A cynic might say that obedience itself is the cost—complying with another’s demand rather than managing one’s own affairs. A more charitable observer might suggest that obeying God costs you neutrality—you obey Him because you believe both that He should be obeyed and that people other than you ought to obey Him as well.
Present a Living Sacrifice
The Apostle Paul’s prescription for obedience to God in Romans 12:1 includes its own cost into his challenge: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” Taken in by
itself, Paul’s words could suggest that he intends for his hearers to govern their bodily activities and presentation—this could include appetites both sexual and with food, attention dedicated to physical attractiveness, resisting violent impulses, and so on. But a more common conservative theological take on Paul’s instruction here finds him commending the dedication of one’s entire life to Christ.
Rather than focus on the corpus, the tangible form of the body, Paul means for his audience to always surrender everything on all levels to God. By “body,” Paul intends the whole self—mind, deeds, personality, spirit, will. “Live your everyday existence so that all you are and who you strive to become, all your secret thoughts and public pronouncements, all your reactions to either blessing, temptation or crisis, conform to God’s holy character.” Seen in that light, the cost of obedience to God is discipleship.
Discipleship
Discipleship in ancient times surpassed mere teaching and was made up of more than following one’s master in immersive fashion. Successful discipleship in this context should result in an onlooker’s having trouble in distinguishing between the characters of disciple and master.
Such a cost, however, could not be paid by God’s people throughout the entire history of the Old Testament. It is one thing to promote a lifestyle of obedience and quite another to accomplish it. Paul, however, does not simply render a free-floating command to paying this all-inclusive cost. He prefaces his call to discipleship with several revealing conditions which will aid those responding to Paul’s letter.
First, with “therefore” Paul recalls previous points he made concerning God’s proactive efforts on behalf of all humanity, efforts Paul characterizes with the plural term “mercies.” Paul does not merely ask his audience to feel an emotional boost at considering God’s generous kindness. Rather, he means to encourage their properly tabulating available resources for enabling their obedience journey.
Some Assembly Required
When you purchase a prefabricated piece of furniture, typically the packaging informs you that “some assembly is required.” This differs considerably from a requirement to plant, raise, harvest, and convert any wood involved; then locate, mine, refine, and mold any metals required; then formulate and print out a working design for assembly. Earlier in his letter Paul notes that “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith” (Romans 3:23-25). In short, no one can manufacture his own redeeming grace through any combination of religious ritual, charitable deed, or passionate witness. Sin is pardoned and holy hearts gained in pre-packaged form from God through Christ, and our “assembly” responsibility transpires through our trusting faith in Jesus’ sacrifice.
Our cost of obedience is further lightened by Paul’s address in Romans 12:1—he speaks not to a disinterested public but to family, namely, “brothers and sisters” who share their faith walk in the daily blessing of God’s intimate Fatherhood. His unmerited mercy sits alongside His adoptive affection for His children, among whom believers today can count themselves as well as those who received Paul’s Rome-directed epistle. Those born again into God’s family do not merely have awareness of their Father’s identity like my adopted sons do through their edited birth certificates—God conveys His Fatherhood directly within the heart.
Decisive Act
We should examine two further aspects of how yielding ourselves to discipleship should happen. Paul does not direct believers to deliver their bodies proudly and loudly in self-glorifying grandeur but rather to entrust them to God in one decisive act that persists in its effect; this prompt decision with enduring impact is indicated by Paul’s rendering “offer” in the Greek aorist tense, meaning it is an act that is complete in its action. Second, Paul’s voices his call to action not as a corrective command but as an appeal to inspired readiness born of God’s previous and various merciful involvements. As J.B. Phillips translates, “With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you.”
Furthermore, as cost generally involves surrendering one good for the acquisition or accomplishment of another, we should consider to what end Paul would have believer’s surrender their lives in discipled fashion. First, Paul notes that such surrender is worshipful towards God. He who has given both real life to the sin-strangled and real light to the sin-blinded deserves full devotion. Such devotion is secondly logical—who would want to sustain any distance between self and such a compassionate, capable Savior? Such worship is translated here from the Greek as “logical, sensible, reasonable, appropriate, intelligent, essential,” and “true.”
While ancient worship often included literal blood sacrifices, “worship” in Romans 12:1 makes clear that the believer’s sacrifice does not conclude in its initial offering. Instead, it enjoys a perpetual effect and benefit. It is “a living sacrifice,” rendered valuable to offer by God’s transformative gift of purity and valuable to live by remaining under His direct influence.
It is one thing to speak of what this cost of obedience is and another to determine it is possible. How can we trust that it is possible to devote our lives to God in daily submission and under His constantly shaping us? Jesus once again both motivates and empowers. In Ephesians 5:1-2 Paul recalls again how Jesus has sacrificed His life in love for us: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” But in His humanity, Jesus also acts as our role model, an “example” believers should be inspired to follow; because He managed to give Himself, to offer His body, we also can and ought. And this is love.
Our Corporate Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to carefully consider the offering of ourselves to You. In that we are made by You and for You, where can we find a better purpose that in Your work? Where can we find a better path than in Your way? Where can we find better meaning than in what You show us through Your Word and Your guidance? What could be better than humbly submitting to Your will? I would be Your obedient servant. Let Your Holy Spirit gently teach me and lead me as You would have me go. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Our Worldwide Prayer Meeting
Australia Territory
Thinking It Through
Major Caldwell says in his article, "cost generally involves surrendering one good for the acquisition or accomplishment of another." How does that work in our obedience to God? What if we refuse to sacrifice the one good thing for the better?
Notable Quotables
If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice? - David Livingstone
A song that reminds us of giving everything to God is Bandmaster Bill Himes' beautiful song, "All That I Am."
We would appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions on how to improve these devotionals. Please email comments to: SpiritualLifeDevelopment@uss.salvationarmy.org or by going to our website: https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/uss/spiritual-life-development.
We would love to hear from you.
Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee
Territorial Spiritual Life Development Officer/THQ Chaplain
USA Southern Territory