Story Time
I would first like to tell you a story about a boy who went to one of my primary schools. This boy was so stubborn and disobedient to the school rules, the teachers, and even to the principal, he always did what the school told him not to do, the teachers would speak to him several times and correct him but he would continue to do it more and more, and even worse each time. Then one day he was expelled, and I don’t think I ever saw him again in the school.
This boy was very disobedient and did not obey the rules of the school, and he faced the consequences.
He reminds me of a stubborn Goat. Let’s look at this bible verse in Proverbs:
29 If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover.
What does Obedience Mean?
Obedience to God is very key, especially as children of God, it is an important way to fulfill God’s plan and purpose for our life. But what does obedience to God mean? According to the dictionary, “the definition of obedience is “submissive to the restraint or command of authority: willing to obey.”Therefore, the meaning of Christian obedience is the act of submitting (obeying) to the commands (laws) of God, the highest authority, Creator, and Father of mankind. So it is important to obey God and follow his commandments, as well as submitting.
Here are some reasons to obey God:
Jesus Calls Us to Obey…
In Jesus Christ, we find the perfect model of obedience. As his disciples, we follow Christ’s example as well as his commands. Our motivation for obedience is love:
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15, ESV)
When we obey God we are joyful and happy…
When we obey God we are joyful and happy.
1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord 2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart (Psalm 119:1-2)
God Rewards Obedience…
Over and over again we read in the Bible that God blesses and rewards obedience:
“And through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:18, NLT)
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 11:28, NLT)
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. (James 1:22–25, NLT)
Obedience to God Proves Our Love…
The books of 1 and 2 John clearly explain that obedience to God demonstrates love for God. Loving God implies following his commands:
By this, we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. (1 John 5:2–3, ESV)
Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. (2 John 6, NLT)
Obedience to God Demonstrates Faith…
When we obey God, we show our trust and faith in him:
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3–6, NLT)
Disobedience Leads to Sin and Death…
Disobedience leads to us sinning against God and even dying.
For as by the one man’s [Adam’s] disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s [Christ’s] obedience, the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19, ESV)
The verse above says, “Let us work toward complete holiness.” We don’t learn obedience overnight; it’s a lifelong process that we pursue by making it a daily goal.
To conclude…
Today, I want you to obey God and submit to him, and follow his commandments, and to also love him with your whole heart, and to not be disobedient to God!
The chronicle of Abraham’s journey with God happens to be one of my favorite Biblical stories. In fact, I have actually pictured my calling as patterned with the walk of faith Abraham had with God. At the time I heard the call to ministry, I had a deep sense of awakening and a nudge that God had a specific assignment for me, with a vivid requirement to embark on a walk of faith, discipline, and obedience with Him, the Yahweh. It’s note-worthy to critically review the journey, as it has been a typical journey of faith that is undoubtedly required by every Christian, who wants to follow through, the plan and purpose of God in getting him to a land of promise and fulfilling destiny. God, the creator of the heaven and earth, in His nature, has the capacity to see beyond what the human sight can cover, and that is the reason He takes charge of the governance of the life of His chosen, and dictates, commands, and eventually directs the same, in order to achieve His divine objectives and goals.”
