Naamloos Sermon (20)
Preek Jeugddienst Hoge Hexel
“It is this ‘long obedience in the same direction’ which the mood of the world does so much to discourage.” When the path of obedience to Christ becomes steep and dangerous, pleasure seekers look for an easier way. Religious tourists hunting for sensational entertainment, instantaneous enlightenment, and emotional excitement will jump on the newest rides and take quick shortcuts, but they will not be found with pilgrims on the long, hard road following in the footsteps of Christ, who was obedient to death—even death on a cross. Paul’s call to unflagging, Christ-like obedience will not be popular in a world that so highly values going fast and having fun and so quickly rejects enduring pain and submitting to authority. But the essential characteristic of the wise who build their community on Christ is their consistent obedience to him.
Paul also modifies his imperative to work out your salvation by adding a prepositional phrase: with fear and trembling. In the OT this kind of language indicates awe in the presence of God (
