Tuesday: Power to Obey
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 2nd of September 2025
Read Ezekiel 36:26-28. How does obedience take place in our lives?
On three occasions, the Israelites fervently declared that they would obey God (Exodus 19:8; Exodus 24:3,7). Obedience is important, even if the Bible teaches that we humans are weak, broken, fragile, and sinful. This sad truth has been revealed not only through the history of ancient Israel but through the history of all His people.
How, then, are we enabled to follow God faithfully?
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
The good news is that what God commands, He empowers us to do. The help that is not inside of us comes from outside, enabling us to do what God requires. It is His work. In the core of his theological summary in Ezekiel 36:26-27, the prophet Ezekiel makes this point very clear. Only God can perform a heart transplant, and He does so by removing our heart of stone and replacing it with a sensitive heart of flesh. As Joshua reminded his audience: “ ‘You are not able to serve the Lord’ ” (Joshua 24:19, NIV).
We can decide to follow God; that is our role. We have to make the choice, the moment-by-moment choice to surrender to Him. And that is because we do not have the power to fulfill even our conscious choice to serve Him. But when we give our weakness to God, He will make us strong. Paul says: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10, NKJV).
Notice the divine “I” in Ezekiel 36:24-30: God gathers, cleanses, removes, gives, puts, and moves you to carefully keep His law. What He is doing, you will do. He identifies with you, and if you associate closely with Him, His doing will be your doing. The unity between God and you will be dynamic, powerful, and lively.
Again, the emphasis in this passage is on God’s doing. The literal translation reads: “I will give my Spirit in you, and I will do that you will walk in my statutes and keep my laws, and you will do.” God commands people to obey and then gives the power to obey. What God requires of His people, He always helps them to do. Obedience is God’s gift (not just our performance or achievement), just as justification and salvation are His gifts too (Philippians 2:13).
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If we have been promised the power to obey, why do we find it so easy to fall into sin anyway? |
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Obedience is not a feeling or a desire to do what God says, but it is a matter of the heart. Obedience determined by the condition of the heart. Our intentions can be sincere and honest, but the outcome will depend on whether our hearts are transformed or not. The Children of Israel were honest when they said in unison, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Exod. 19:8; 24:3,7). Human promises without divine power are simply good wishes. The secrete to abide by the will of God is not a matter of personal resolve but who gives us that resolve.
“It is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).
Therefore, we should abide in Him who gives us the power to be obedient. Unless we are in Christ, our human effort to be obedient will fail. “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We must acknowledge that we are too weak to abide in the will of on our own. Hence, we must surrender our will to God on a daily basis. We must “die” daily (1 Cor. 15:31). By so doing, we allow Christ to live in us and to enable us to be obedient (Galatians 2:20).
Moses standing on the plains of Moab delivered powerful sermons with a theme of obdience. Moses messages were not a “new law” but a call for a new generation of Israel to remember and obey the same covenant God had always given (Deut. 6:4–6; Deut. 30:15–20). Their parents had fallen in the wilderness because of unbelief and by extension disobedience, but the children were urged to worship God alone, trusting Him in faith-driven obedience, so that they might live in the land God had promised and indeed delivered. (Deut. 8:1–2; Deut. 10:12–13).
Failure to obey God voice reflects a similar pattern in the salvation story as narrated in the bible. God called Adam to obey unfortunately he failed (Gen. 2:16–17; Rom. 5:12), God called Israel to obey and they miserably failed (Jer. 7:23–24), God has called us and likewise we are unable to keep God’s holy standard and thus we have all failed (Rom. 3:23). The good news is that God, in His mercies has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who has demonstrated perfect obidience in our place and bore our sin of disobedience on the cross (Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21). Our only hope, like Moses’ sermons in Deuteronomy, spoken on the plains of Moab, were not a “new law” but a call for a new generation of Israel to remember and obey the same covenant God had always given (Deut. 6:4–6; Deut. 30:15–20). Their parents had fallen in the wilderness because of unbelief, but the children were urged to worship God alone, trusting Him in faith-driven obedience so that they might live in the land He promised (Deut. 8:1–2; Deut. 10:12–13).
This pattern of disobedience reflects the story of humanity: Adam was called to obey and failed (Gen. 2:16–17; Rom. 5:12), Israel was called to obey and failed (Jer. 7:23–24), and we are likewise unable to keep God’s holy standard (Rom. 3:23). But God, in His mercy, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who perfectly obeyed in our place and bore our sin on the cross (Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21). Our only hope, like Adam’s and Israel’s, is in Christ’s obedience and saving work, through whom we receive life by faith (John 14:6; Gal. 2:16).
Way back when I was in primary school, I had a burning ambition to be a school or class prefect. I mean, who wouldn't want that power and respect, right? But, I didn't quite fit the bill. The prefects were always the neatest and sharpest, with discipline oozing out of their pores, oratory skills that could charm, and athletic prowess that left everyone in awe. I, on the other hand, was a bit of a mess. My shirt and shorts were like two estranged friends who refused to get along – my shirt was always untucked!
I was a bit cheeky, so discipline wasn't exactly my strong suit. My voice was more like a affair, while everyone else seemed to have those smooth-talking, "stylish and with umph"*the skills that just drew people in. And let's not forget about my lack of athletic stature – gymnastics was my thing, but I wasn't exactly the next big thing. Needless to say, my quest to become a prefect never quite came to fruition – not in primary school, nor in secondary school.
So, I hung around the prefects, basking in the reflected glory, making friends and convincing many that I was one of them. But then, the unthinkable happened – unrest descended upon the school. The prefects, once revered for their authority and respect, were suddenly thrust into the hot seat. The power and respect I had once envied were being put to the ultimate test. As the stakes rose, fear crept in, and the prefects' usual confidence began to wane. This was no longer a game of prestige; it was a trial by fire. were needed, and the prefects' mettle was about to be tested. The day of reckoning had finally arrived, and the looks on their faces said it all – they were far from excited.
Likewise, the power to obey is indeed a great gift that God makes accessible to us; however, and this is where we struggle the most. As Samuel told King Saul, "To obey is better than sacrifice"(1 Samuel 15:22). After Saul's disobedience, God's words to Samuel were, "I regret"(1 Samuel 15:35). Our disobedience could spur God's disappointment to this same point. We need to take this gift of obedience seriously.
It is useful to do a comparison between the Hebrew Sanctuary and the places of worship used by other Mediterranean religions of the same period. Those who study comparative religions like to emphasis the similarities between these religions as evidence that there is nothing all that special about the Hebrew religion. So, in this discussion we will look at the similarities and differences, and I will leave it to the reader to draw their conclusions.
Similarities:
Most Mediterranean religions had temples as places of worship, typically these were structured hierarchically with an outer zone or courtyard for general worshippers, an inner zone where the priesthood performed their functions and a most holy place where only the high priest was permitted and only on special occasions.
Many of the religions had tent sanctuaries, often to ensure that their divine presence could be carried into battle. We see this in the case of the Hebrews in the time of Samuel.
The materials used were often the same and were a combination of value and practicality. There are examples in Egypt of the use of acacia wood and fabrics and skis dyed with red, blue and purple.
The four horned alter was a common feature and was probably the result of practicality. They were, after all, designed for burnt offerings.
Differences:
The Hebrew temple did not contain an idol. The Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant which represented the presence of God, but it was never venerated as a God. God was always regarded as invisible. The temple was to be God’s dwelling place among his people but he was not to be physically constrained by it.
There were no phallic or fertility symbols. While some of the symbols were found in other religions in the region, they represented ideas other than fertility.
The altar of sacrifice was in the open, where all could see and take part in its rituals. In the other religions, it was often hidden.
Worship for the Hebrews had a sense of gratitude and adoration for a God who is interested in them. While most of the Mediterranean religions were more to do with appeasement of angry and capricious gods.
It is one of the afflictions of mankind for being sinners in a sinful world that truth always seems to have a counterfeit that can appear genuine and is thereby deceptive.
Deception in itself wouldn’t seem so bad except that the results can be so catastrophic. This is especially true when it comes to a counterfeit spiritual experience through which our souls may be lost.
This is why it is so crucial that we allow God to drill down to the deepest recesses of our hearts so we will be willing to give up our stony hearts, receive the truth, and a new heart in Christ Jesus.
Power to obey comes from God when when we have first given our will and intention to do HIS will. We must first has that desire to practice what is right then HE will work on that desire and enable us from within to do thus says the Lord.
Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV) But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
John 7:17 (NKJV) If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
Philippians 2:13 (NKJV) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
It is truly a mystery: the works of God in someone’s heart. If we are unable to change ourselves, how can we help others? Our single and best choice in everyday life is to say, “Lord, here I am, fulfill Your will in my life,” and be free!
In answer to the final question, I can see three reasons why we fall into sin despite God's power
1. We don't rely on God and try to overcome sin on our own
2. We fail to maintain a close relationship with God day by day by spending time with Him
3. We don't turn to God immediately in a moment of temptation and struggle
That being said, as our human nature is sinful there is never going to be a "poof" moment when we do all 3 of the above perfectly. All these things are growing experiences because we do have a sinful nature. I say this to encourage us because we ultimately need to heal and grow much like a child does. God is patient with us, even when we fall. So long as we stay connected to Him, He will make us more and more like Him and sin will have less power in our lives.
Ezk 36:25-30 has application under the New Covenant, the Eternal Covenant, not in the Old Covenant, the Law. Under Law external cleansing, circumcision of the flesh prevails. In order to love the Lord with all the heart and soul circumcision of the heart is mandatory (Dt 30:6; Jn 3:3,5,6). God acknowledged that the people did not have a heart that would be always obedient to Him, yet He did not promise them nor did he give them such a heart to obey (Dt 5:29; 29:4).
How were the Israelites “empowered” to “not sin”(not to be obedient) against God under the Old Covenant? The Lord came down on Mt Sinai in fire, billowing smoke, thunder, lightning flashes, thick clouds, very loud trumpet blasts, mountain-quakes, and the “sound of words” such that the people trembled and thought that they would die (Ex 19:16,18; Heb 12:18-21). This awesome frightening display was so “that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin” (Ex 20:20). They would be afraid to sin against God. It is why they immediately promised to do all that God had said. But being dead in sin, sin slaves, they continuously broke the covenant. Passion lust overcame their sense of God’s awesome presence.
Scripture says that Law is meant for the very such people (1 Tim 1:8-11). They should come to realize their depraved enslaved condition and cry out for deliverance, like the Rom 7 man (Rom 7:23,24; 10:4; Gal 3:19,23-26; 4:4-7).
I don't feel that God was holding anything back from the Israelites at Sinai. His plan has always been to transform hearts and He did transform some hearts (for example Moses, Joshua, Caleb etc) even then.
However, the people needed to realize they needed that heart change. They didn't. They were over-confident in their ability to keep the law. God allowed them to have a try at that, knowing they would fail. He's not going to force a heart change on anyone. Failing allowed them to feel their need of God.