I have had a song in my head off and on for a few weeks called Trust and Obey. Do you know that song? It is a simple song with a powerful message.

So I want to explore that topic of obedience to God. Does that sound scary? What is the first thought or emotion that rises up in you when you hear the word obey or obedience? Dread? Apprehension? Uncertainty? Inadequacy? Joy? Peace? Legalistic religion?

The first thought or emotion the word obedience brings up exposes our true relationship with God. 

How do you see obedience?

Maybe you see God as a demanding God. One who gives you a list of dos and don’ts that really put a crimp in your life. To gain His favor those rules must be obeyed, right? Otherwise, He scowls at you.

Maybe you see God as a loving Father, but still has rules that must be obeyed. And that prevents you from really loving Him back.

What or who is behind these negative thoughts? Why is obedience offensive? Why do we put up our guard? Will we lose our freedom, our independence? We haven’t had to obey since childhood. Why go back into that bondage?

What is behind our thoughts of resistance to obedience?

Maybe it isn’t so much a what as a who. Satan doesn’t want us to obey. He cannot stand God and doesn’t want us to trust Him. Rather, he wants us to believe that God is a mean or, at least, a demanding God. Anything, but trusting God. Even if Satan has lost the battle for our souls by our new birth, he still has power to mess up our lives. And does he ever try!

Do you follow a set of rules? Shoulds and should nots? We are all familiar with them. Could they be man-made rules based on biblical principles such as love not the world? Why?

Rules can define a lifestyle. They can provide parameters that serve as guidelines to our life. But, and it is a big but, they separate. Those who follow and those who do not. Those who are like us and those who are not of us. Sad.

If we have rules we don’t need to be in constant communication with God. All we need is to obey the set of rules. Easier…but hollow. Empty. No life. Law kills. Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 3:6 …for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Paul is talking about the law that was given to Moses as being a ministry of death. The Law could not enable people to follow it. It could only demand. So in demanding but not enabling, the law condemned people. The ministry of Jesus through His life in us enables us to live rightly. The law kills, but the Spirit gives life. See the difference between following a set of rules and allowing the Spirit to live in us enabling us to be Christ-like?

The life of Jesus in us enables us to fulfill all the law without even thinking about it, because His love fulfills all the law.

Next week I will share the benefits of obedience that I found.

Words to light your path

John 15:10,12,14 

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

For more on this topic:

The Submission of the Believer  

God Glorified by Working Obedience in Us

I shared what Ruth Paxson says about obedience in Life on the Highest Plane pt. 6.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Help us to consider this word, obedience. Help us not to shy away from it but face it and search our hearts to see what our response is to that word. We want to be obedient children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.