Scripture

Hebrews 5:8-9 “Though He [Jesus] was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”

Observation

In this verse, the writer of Hebrews makes the profound statement that our Lord Jesus “learned obedience by the things He suffered.”  While it is a little difficult to comprehend that the Lord of lords and King of kings had to learn obedience by the things He suffered, I take great comfort in knowing that even the Lord had to learn obedience by submitting his human flesh to the ultimate will of God for His life.   As a result, I should not be surprised that I must also learn obedience by the things I suffer as a human being through the submission of my flesh to the ultimate will of God for my life. 

Application

Because the Lord was victorious in learning obedience through the things He suffered, being both fully God and fully human, I too can be victorious in learning obedience by the things I suffer as a believer because Christ lives in me and gives me the strength and grace to learn obedience through my sufferings as a human being filled with His Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord my Righteousness!  Thank You for giving me the strength and grace to learn obedience by the things I suffer in the flesh as I submit my flesh to Your ultimate will for my life. Through Your glorious victory over sin and death through the things You suffered at the Cross, in Christ, I am more than a conqueror also by learning obedience through the things I suffer too. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Learned Obedience Copyright 2011, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Learned Obedience, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.