“Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”

My friends, readers of the blog, from Genesis to Revelation, this is the story. Those saved by God in every age were those who were obedient. Those who were punished by God were those who disobeyed. Adam and Eve found this out and so it has been since their transgression in the Garden of Eden.

It is true that Jesus did not learn obedience in the sense that He was at some point, disobedient. He was never disobedient, but He was challenged to be disobedient, and His refusal caused Him to suffer from the Evil One. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He faced the last great choice. Here He shed His last tears when He cried out for the cup to pass Him by. But, He refused to disobey. The price of obedience was His suffering. The disciples found out that this would be the case for them all. There is and has been a price for obeying Jesus. The first and greatest price to be paid is the leaving of all things in order to follow Jesus. We make the mistake of thinking we can have the world and follow Him. We must choose between the world and Jesus. He chose the cross. He asks us to make the same choice.

Task for Today: What will you give up in order to have Jesus? Are you burdened with things or with a cross? What idols have you exchanged the cross for? Hopefully, you are not trying to serve two masters. Can’t have Him and mammon. Today choose the cross and give your idols up.