When the people of Israel renewed their commitment to the LORD as Joshua addressed them, after they were set free from the physical bondage of Egypt, they told Joshua, that they will obey the voice of the LORD and Him they will serve (Joshua 24:24).
If obedience to the LORD is one side of the coin, the other side is service. Service goes hand in hand with obedience. There are many of us who serve but not obey and there are others who obey but not serve. Jesus served God the Father in obedience to the will of God the Father. Just as one cannot serve without obeying, one cannot obey without serving.
Points to ponder:
Now, we who have been set free from the spiritual bondage of sin and the power of death, is our response the same as that of the Israelities – dual in its function, which is to obey AND serve. “To obey or not to obey” is synonymous to “To serve or not to serve.” For even Jesus Christ, came to serve (obey) and not to be served; how much more should we emulate that same attitude!
Joshua 24:24 (KJV)
24 And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.
