Obedience to God is the supreme path. Yet I did not obey. But with better understanding, I took that path more often. We can be blessed by choosing to obey God. Obey God, our creator. He knows the plan for our fulfillment, our joy, and our peace.
For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Click any of the links in the sequence you like, scroll down, and read the article:
Why does obedience matter?
Obedience and Love
Obedience is better than sacrifice
Obedience is not easy
Obedience is to the will of God
God provides strength for obedience
Obedience and blessings
Notes connected to Obedience
1. Why does obedience matter?
The choice to do physical exercise is an option that comes daily to us. We can either choose to do it or avoid it. Avoiding exercise may give us more time to rest—a short-term benefit. Yet we know when we choose to sacrifice rest by regular exercise, our body can become fit, we can live longer, and we can be free from sickness. A healthier body allows us to pursue the things we want to do and even help friends, family, and others around us.
Note: Benefits of obeying yourself and exercising and walking regularly are given at the bottom of this page.
2. Obedience and Love
We love our parents as well as obey our parents. Both these go hand in hand. Love without obedience neither works nor makes sense.
Even in a marriage, spouses have a mutual desire to please each other, not to displease others. Pleasing one another only happens by doing things that please the other person, which comes from a place of aligning with the likes, which comes from a place of obedience. All this comes effortlessly because of the love between spouses. Where there is love, we just do things that please effortlessly.
Here are the specific verses which point to the connection between obedience to God and loving God. This verse is from the 14th chapter of John. We can very well test ourselves by going through this verse and accessing ourselves.
If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. (John 14:21)
The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let myself be clearly seen by him and make myself real to him.] (John 14:21)
3. Obedience is better than sacrifice
We know that worshipping God is good. We know that offering sacrifices to God is good. But among these, obeying God is to be given higher priority. Here is what God says in the Bible.
So Samuel said: “Has 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 heed than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)
Remembering that the Lord does not require speaking in a booming voice or speaking from within a burning bush. He can and may do both as well. Hearing His still, small voice is important. Hearing it consistently and obeying it consistently is a way to develop a hearing heart and an obedient spirit.
4. Obedience is not easy
When we obey, we give up an alternate path. You give up your will, your default thinking, and your desire and leave your comfort zone.
Here is this portion from Hebrews 5: 8, 9, which speaks about the obedience of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered, and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. (Hebrews 5: 8,9)
5. Obedience is to the will of God
Before Jesus was to be crucified, he was in prayer. He knew what was coming up. In all humanness, he suffered. From the human frailty he asked if the cup of suffering could be removed. But in his humanness, he was determined, and he surrendered to be obedient to his father, God.
We are to follow Jesus. We are not to look at our comfort, situations, or suffering, but get to hear God’s will. Our words and actions should be directed by God’s will.
Jesus said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22: 42)
In the past, my obedience would be limited to not doing any criminal act, but that is not the obedience God seeks. But in time, I have realised that only in loving God and loving one’s neighbour as oneself, can we walk in obedience.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” And Jesus replied to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36 -40 AMP)
6. God provides strength for obedience
I have found that I often did not have the strength for obedience. But when I started taking baby steps in obedience, I discovered that the Lord gave me strength, encouraging me in the pathway of obedience. I would encourage you to start earnestly.
A verse is given below so you can get the context.
He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22: 41,44)
An angel may or may not appear, but certainly the Lord can give you greater determination and strength, a gentle nudge once you decide to obey.
7. Obedience and blessings
Obedience has rewards. When you were a child, you recall receiving rewards from your parents, guardians or teachers. In some cases, the rewards are soon to follow; other times, it takes time. When you have built up your faith, you are certain of the reward; the timing does not matter. Sometimes the nature of rewards may be different. Sometimes rewards are far beyond what is perceived and ever considered. One such precious thing is will power, the value of which is often not understood.
Here is a passage from Deuteronomy 29. Do not rush through it. Get this into your heart by reading repeatedly and reading slowly.
I have led you in the wilderness forty years; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, so that you might know that I am the Lord your God [on whom you must depend]. When you reached this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out to meet us in battle, but we defeated them; 8 and we took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. So keep the words of this covenant and obey them, so that you may prosper and be successful in everything that you do. (Deuteronomy 29:5-9)
For now, I conclude here. Be blessed in your walk in obedience to the Spirit of God, to the commandments you already know.
8. Notes connected to Obedience
All of us have been taught about the benefits of exercise, all of us want to be healthy and avoid sickness, yet many of us are not able to obey that part of ourselves that is willing to do exercise and stay healthy. But when we keep reminding ourselves of the benefits of exercise and have a picture of ourselves healthy and fit after many years, we are likely to make a good choice to exercise today.
So here it is, the benefits of exercising regularly. Read these benefits daily, and each day speak about this to one other person every day. You would most likely exercise daily and stay healthy. You have the option to make a similar choice for your spiritual obedience.
You may wish to read about the benefits of regular exercise here
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise
You can read about the importance of a 30-minute walk regularly:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/walking-for-good-health
