Cross the Valley with The CROSS

 

Cross the Valley with  The CROSS

The enemy of our souls always look for an opportunity in the life of every person just as what happened in the Garden of Eden. The tempter promises many things and sinful desires are deceitful lusts and the empty promises. He allures men happiness which are temporary, but render them more miserable. It brings to humanity desolation in the finale, if not subdued and mortified.

Obedience is better than sacrifice

Strong's Greek: 5218. ὑπακοή (hupakoé) -- Obedience

5218 hypakoḗ (from 191 /akoúō, "to hear" and 5259 /hypó, "beneath") – i.e. obedience – literally, " submission to what is heard " (WS, 695), i.e. obedience as the response to someone speaking.[i]

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams;

1 Sam. 15: 22.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight; Prov. 3:5-6.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this;

Psa. 37:5. 

          When we are conflicted, confronted, confused and confounded our only refuge and shelter is God who gave His Son for us.  The One who is able to bring us out of those confusion and instill within us the strength necessary for those situations is alive today!  

        Obedience is a key aspect of our walk with God. When we choose to trust Him, obedience becomes our heartfelt response. It reflects our understanding that God’s ways are higher than ours, and His direction is laid out for our own benefit. He made us, so He loved us. Do you know there is a science to obedience?

The neuroscience of obedience explores how authority 

influences decision making and behavior, revealing that following orders can 

diminish our sense of agency and moral responsibility.[ii] 

Bias and obedience are complex, multifaceted processes influenced by numerous neuroscientific factors. From brain structures like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex to neurotransmitters like dopamine and oxytocin, all contribute to the formation and reinforcement of these behaviors. The amygdala plays a crucial role in processing emotions, particularly those related to threat and fear. When an individual encounters new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, the amygdala is activated, amplifying negative emotions such as anger, fear, and anxiety.[iii]

Whom do we trust?

Strong's Greek: 4100. πιστεύω (pisteuó) -- To believe, to have …

The word can denote (1) accepting something as true, (2) placing trust in a person, or (3) entrusting something to another’s care. Context determines the nuance, yet the center of …[iv]

         Trust and Obey

         The Word of God calls us to put on the new man in Christ which was created with the power of Christ in true righteousness and holiness; which affects us in all areas of our lives. Mortal man are corrupt and had to be redressed! Ephesians 4:17-24 calls us to put off our former conduct which is corrupt. Putting away our old garment and robbing with His righteousness is a process. Does not come to fallen men naturally, but through The Cross of Christ. We can carry our cross with His power reigning in us.

         Our mind (heart and the brain) has huge involvement in this process of change.

The neuroscience of trust reveals that trust is deeply rooted in  our brain chemistry, particularly through the action of oxytocin, which fosters 

feelings of connection and safety in social interactions.[v]

Emlet, Michael, writes, Ultimately our bodies do not have “the final say” when it comes to whether or not we live in faith or idolatry. At most, the body can only influence our hearts to make that righteous or sinful choice. The Scriptures affirm the active, responsive-to-God heart, while not ignoring the powerful influences of the body on the heart.[vi]

 “So, if you want to know the Lord Jesus Christ, you must live with him. First he must himself speak to you, and afterwards you must abide in him. He must be the choice Companion of your morning hours, he must be with you throughout the day, and with him you must also close the night; and as often as you may wake during the night, you must say, ‘When I awake, I am still with thee.’ ” (Spurgeon)[vii]

        New man will be  created in us at our conversion. The new person is created according to the image of Jesus Christ; in His righteousness and holiness. This is in total contrast to the old man, the person whom we inherited from Adam and Eve when they rebelled against God. The new man is the new creation.  

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new; 2 Cori. 5: 17.

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[i] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=I657DF&PC=I657&q=obedience+in

[ii]https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=I657DF&PC=I657&q=obedience+

[iii] https://dharmapodcast.com/wisdorise/neuroscience-bias-obedience/#:~:text=Bi

[iv]https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=I657DF&PC=I657&q=Trust+Greek+

 [v]https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=I657DF&PC=I657&q=trust+and+nueroscience

[vi] Emlet, Michael, R. 2002. Understanding the influences on the human heart. Journal of Biblical Counseling, 20:47-52.

This means that while we may speak of the heart in moral-covenantal terms— righteous or unrighteous—the body cannot be spoken of in the same terms. As mediator, the body in and of itself is not the source of sin but is spoken of in terms such as weakness/strength, limitation, and dependence.

[vii] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/ephesians-4/