Obedience to Jesus’s Commands Produces Eternal Results
David W Palmer
(Matthew 10:5–8 NKJV) These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. {6} But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. {7} And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ {8} Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
Jesus “sent out” his disciples and “commanded” them; they obeyed and went. For all of us, this is where the rubber meets the road. It’s one thing to have invited “gentle, loving” Jesus into your life—hoping he will encourage you, comfort you, rescue you from trouble in this life, and save you from the flames of hell later; but it’s quite another thing to have him in your life as Lord. As “Lord of the harvest,” he can and will “send” you and “command” you. Are you ready for this today? Are you ready to receive and follow orders like a soldier?
(2 Timothy 2:3–4 NKJV) You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. {4} No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
Yes, Jesus is our kind, loving Savior who brings warmth, freedom, joy, and overflowing love; but he is also Lord—the one we must obey if we want his help:
(Hebrews 5:8–9 NLT) Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. {9} In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.
Jesus obeyed his Father implicitly, despite the hardships and sufferings it brought him. As a result of his obedience, God qualified him as our perfect High Priest and Lord. He can now help us the way his Father helped him: he gives us commands; if we obey them, he “saves”—rescues, delivers, heals, protects, and helps—us; but if we don’t obey them …
(Philippians 2:8–11 NLT) He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. {9} Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Just as a loving parent protects their child from burns by instructing them not to touch hot things; so Jesus protects, guides, rescues, and shepherds us by instructing us away from danger, and into his wisdom for our lives.
Marriage, family, ministry, business, and career success all depend on obedience to our Lord Jesus. For example, in the following passage we see a fishing business flourish when they obeyed Jesus’s seemingly illogical instructions:
(John 21:3–6 NLT) Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. ... {6} Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
After Jesus’s death, his disciples went back to their former occupation by their own initiative; and despite a whole night of sleepless toil, they caught no fish. However, when they obeyed Jesus; with relatively little effort, they received a copious supply. For us, catching fish is a picture of both business and bringing people to Jesus; if we obey him, we too will see success.
In a similar way to how Jesus helped them in this fishing example, he said that if they followed him closely—by obeying him—he would make them competent at fishing for men (Mat. 4:19). In other words, just as they caught a huge haul when they obeyed his timing and technique, submission to his Spirit would lead to bringing many to Jesus in his gospel net.
Here is another similar illustration:
(Luke 5:4–6 DKJV) Now when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Launch out to the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” {5} And Simon answering said to him, “Master, we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.” (6) And when they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fish; and their net was beginning to break.
Even in the field where they were proficient professionals, Jesus’s followers were unable to yield any fruit by their own hard work. But when they obeyed the Master (after sitting at his feet listening to him teach), in one haul they caught a full supply of fish.
Jesus’s original 12 apprentices obeyed when Jesus sent them out to preach, heal, and to set people free. Their obedience kept them safely under the umbrella of his protection and empowering grace. Consequently, they brought forth copious kingdom fruit:
(Mark 6:12–13 NIV) They went out and preached that people should repent. {13} They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Today, I leave you with this challenge: even though you have invited Jesus into your life, are you ready to receive “commands” from him to the point of having him “send” you? Remember, your salvation depends not only on believing in him, but also on actually obeying his commands. What’s more, for a fully fruitful life—whether that is in family, business, career, ministry, or marriage—obedience to Jesus will always yield fruit without the all night toil and unproductive hard work.
Be especially ready to receive commands from the “Lord of the harvest.” Be ready also to explain the gospel or to minister healing in his name. Watch for open doors of opportunity today—then obey.
(John 10:27 MKJV) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
(John 14:15 NKJV) If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
(John 14:15 TLB) “If you love me, obey me.”
(John 14:15 TMB) “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you.”
