An Obligation, What Does That Mean?
There are a few definitions for the word obligation taken from Dicitionary.com,
- Something by which a person is bound or obliged to do certain things, and which arise out of a sense of duty or results from custom, law, etc.
- Something that is done or is to be done for such reasons: to fulfill one’s obligation.
- A binding promise, contract, sense of duty, etc.
So where does this sense of duty or obligation stem from? It comes from Jesus who gave His spirit to live within us. But the obligation is not to our flesh, to live according to our sinful impulses, but to live according to the Spirit within us. (Romans 8:12 AMP)
How Are We to Fulfill This Obligation?
We do so by living by the power of the Holy Spirit and habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body. As we ourselves are led by the Spirit, we are called God’s children. Thus we have received the Spirit of adoption and can call or cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Therefore, we can call unto our Heavenly Father to cause us to follow His Spirit and live accordingly. The mind of the Spirit is life and peace. This peace is a spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God – both now and forever. Our following His Spirit will bring Him glory and draw others to know Him through us.
For you see, if we live by the flesh, living a life that caters to sinful impulses, we cannot please God.
To Whom Are You Obligated?
Now, comes the question, are you obligated to the Spirit or to your sinful nature? For me, my obligation is to live according to the Spirit that Christ has given me. I may not always get it right but I know that He will forgive me and set me straight if I confess and seek His face. All glory is His.
Here is a related link: Adoption: Earthly Compared to Heavenly
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