By In our battle against sin, and our pursuit of holiness, it is no secret that we want to be obedient but don’t enjoy learning obedience. In theological terms, we want to be glorified, but don’t enjoy being sanctified.
It is true that perfected holiness will be ours when we enter Heaven, but the emphasis of Scripture is very clearly on the present life-long process of putting off sin, renewing your mind like Christ’s, and putting on holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24). Holiness doesn’t happen automatically in this life. Even Jesus in His humanity, had to learn obedience. Jesus was certainly without sin and didn’t ever know sin by way of personal experience, but that didn’t in any way minimise His struggle against temptation to sin, nor did it minimise His experience of the curse of sin, nor did it minimise the spiritual effort He had to exert to be obedient and holy in every temptation.
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Hebrews 5:7-8
If our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ learned obedience, let us not give up in our own battle against sin and pursuit of holiness. Don’t despair when the sin seems great; stand firm in each temptation. When you fail and sin, confess and be forgiven (1 John 1:9). In each and every temptation, learn how to obey. Make each temptation a lesson in fighting sin. Turn each trial into an exercise routine for fitness in obedience.