Tension in Obedience

The tension we feel between God’s call to obedience and our ongoing weakness is resolved not by trying harder, but by trusting Christ more deeply. Through the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, we see that obedience is often costly, countercultural, and uncomfortable—yet it is always rooted in grace. Jesus alone fulfilled perfect obedience on our behalf through His life, death, and resurrection, and His righteousness is credited to us by faith. Our obedience, then, is not a means to earn God’s favor, but a joyful response empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Christ, obedience becomes freedom, testimony, and worship—flowing from grace already received, not effort demanded.