Posts Tagged ‘1 Peter’

The ‘O’ Word

The title of this lesson is “The ‘O’ Word”, because if I said the whole word some of you would “check out”. There are not any books on the shelves that are titled with this word. Many books, however, have this subject interwoven in them, but not as the actual theme, why not?

My experience and observation has been that most people including Christians have a hard time with the subject of obedience. Not only that they feel like it is a huge set of “rules and regulations”, but a mean watchful eye from above that demands for us to be “perfect”. Obedience is that and so much more to me… and I didn’t like it either. Most people would want you to believe that they are obedient to God’s Word and His Voice. I had been under the teaching that it is “good for you” and “pleasing to God”, but it still felt like I was choking as I feebly attempted to try to obey… miss the mark, and then, try again.

Stop right now and answer these two questions. 1) What % of time are you obedient to God’s word? 2) What % of time are you obedient to God’s voice (the Holy Spirit)? Please be honest, you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.

The good news today is that obedience is praise! That is right… praise! One of the words I discovered that was translated praise is the Greek word arÍte. The definition is, “a virtuous course of thought, feeling, and action; any particular moral excellence; praise.” Does that sound like obedience to you? How sweet that arÍte would sometimes be translated into the word praise? Now, how does the word obedience make you feel since you know it is praise? Better?

Here are some scriptures where the word arÍte is used. Read Philippians 4:8, in the NIV, “arÍte” has been translated, “praiseworthy”. The end of the verse says to “think on these things”. Read 1 Peter 2:9, “that you may declare the praises (arÍte) of Him-the obedience of being called out of darkness into the light! Read 2 Peter 1:3, this time, “arÍte” was translated “godliness”. You have been given everything you need in His “divine power” for obedience (arÍte) in “thought, feeling, and action”! That, my beloved, is amazing and wonderful! The final verse is 2 Peter 1:5, “arÍte” is translated into the word “godliness” again, and, of course, it produces, “brotherly kindness”, which is praise!

There are many reasons to obey in addition to it being praise to God as I have mentioned here. Explore these other verses where “arete” is used throughout the NT. Spend some time writing down all the blessings that come with this form of praise. Deuteronomy 28: 2-4, Romans 1:5, Deuteronomy 6:3, 1 Samuel 15:22, John 14:23, and 1 John 5:3… enjoy and experience “arÍte” today!

May this lesson on the subject of praise be a springboard to the joy of obedience for you. I have one final question, “If obedience is praise… then, how much praisin’ is goin’ on in your life today?”

I pray that you will be “set free” from your “boxed in” thinking about obedience, as I was when I discovered this remarkable Greek word for praise.

Praisin’ Him…
Kathy