From Genesis to Revelation, God has a lot to say about obedience. In the Ten Commandments, we see just how important obedience is to God. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 sums it up like this: “Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed.” And in the New Testament, we learn through the example of Jesus that believers are called to a ‘life of obedience’.
It’s important that if we don’t understand something in God’s Word, we should ask Him to make us understand and help us to obey. That’s what the psalmist and others did! Help me understand the meaning of Your precepts so that I can meditate on Your wonders. (Psalm 119:27 CSB)
A precept is a command or principle intended as a general rule of action; an order issued by a legally constituted authority to a subordinate. God and Jesus are our authorities and we are the subordinates. Jesus commanded us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking. He didn’t tell us to seek man’s counsel. So why are we so quick to follow someone else’s opinion on biblical doctrine instead of just asking God to help us understand? Do we believe that God will provide us with the answer? Or could it be that we really don’t want the answer? And what if we’re given wrong counsel by others? Won’t God still hold us accountable for disobeying Him? We will not be able to claim ignorance of God’s commands when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, which every person will do.
A succinct definition of obedience is “to hear God’s Word and then act accordingly” and when God directs us to do something, we should just simply obey.
Jesus Calls Us to Obey
- Jesus is the perfect model of obedience. As his disciples, we follow his example as well as his commands. Our only motivation is: love. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 ESV)
- Obedience is an act of worship. While the Bible places a strong emphasis on obedience, it’s critical to remember that believers are not justified (made righteous) by obedience. Salvation is a free gift from God and we can’t do anything to earn it. We obey because our hearts are grateful for the unmerited kindness and favor we’ve received from God. And this unmerited favor is called “grace”. “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.” (Romans 12:1 NLT)
- Our obedience to God proves our love. The books of 1 and 2 John clearly explain that obedience to God demonstrates our love for Him. Loving God implies obeying His commands:
- “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 2:5, 6 NLT)
- God rewards obedience. Over and over we read in the Bible that God blesses and rewards our obedience. God actually wants us to look forward to being rewarded by Him.
- “And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22:18 ESV)
- But Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28 ESV)
- “Obey God’s message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it. If you hear the message and don’t obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as soon as they leave. But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget.” (James 1:22-25 CEV)
By our obedience, we experience the blessings of living holy. Only Jesus is perfect, therefore, only he walked in sinless, perfect obedience. But as we allow God’s Holy Spirit to transform us from within, we grow in holiness. This is called “sanctification”, which can also be described as growing spiritually. Sanctification is a process by which we undergo all our life until Jesus comes and grants us immortality and complete holiness. The more we read God’s Word, the more we grow in our obedience to God. And because we grow more holy, we experience great joy.
“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of Yahweh. Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!” (Psalm 119:1-8 NLT)
This is my prayer and my hope, that I will never be ashamed when I compare my life to God’s commands. I want God to remove anything in me that offends Him. And I pray that He will give me a clean heart and a loyal spirit. I never want God to take His Holy Spirit away from me. (Psalm 51)
My desire is to receive Yahweh’s blessing and have a right relationship with Him. (Psalm 24:5)
Here are some excerpts from Psalm 25 that you can pray for yourself, too!
“O Yahweh, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O Yahweh; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
Remember, O Yahweh, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Yahweh. Yahweh is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way. Yahweh leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep His covenant and obey His commands.
For the honor of your name, O Yahweh, forgive my many, many sins. Who are those who fear Yahweh? He will show them the path they should choose. Yahweh is a friend to those who fear Him. He teaches them his covenant. My eyes are always on Yahweh, for He rescues me from the traps of my enemies. Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.” in Jesus’s name, amen. (Psalm 25 NLT)
Loving Yahweh with Heart, Soul and Strength 