Believing Is Seeing

Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945, German Lutheran pastor and theologian)

Romans 16:25-27

Now to Him who has power to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the sacred secret kept silent for long ages, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God, to advance the obedience of faith among all nations—to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to Him be the glory forever! Amen. (HCSB)

There are scriptures that are so rich, they are a minefield of diamonds, and this is one of those. Another question this scripture eloquently places before us is an inquiry of our obedience. The obedience of faith is important as Deitrich Bonhoeffer suggests in his quote this morning. An old English proverb also says that the ship that will not obey the helm, will obey the rocks.

Obedience is important. Most all of us have visited our past and thanked those whom disciplined us for our good. What was the goal of those that disciplined us? It was to advance obedience, but in today’s world discipline and obedience have taken a back seat to the advancement of selfish and temporal goals.

Within Scripture lie the secrets of life revealed. You will not see them nor understand them, unless you first walk in obedience to them. Psalm 34:8 says “Come, taste and see that the Lord is good.” Obedience creates more obedience. Romans 1:17 tells us that God’s Righteousness is revealed in us from faith, to faith, and that His Righteous ones would live that way. Simply put, the more we walk the faith, the more we see…God’s Blessings.


Pastor William