As Christians, we are fully aware of the fact that we need to obey God. Despite this, we end up on the wrong foot. It could be that we do not understand the import and implication of this directive. In simple parlance, it means hearing the word of God and acting on it; aligning our will to God’s will; doing what God has asked us to do, and lastly completely surrendering to His authority and basing our decisions and actions according to His will. Below are some important reasons in this direction:
• It is an act of worship as it demonstrates our love for God and sets us apart. Obedience is our way of showing God that we love Him, and through our obedience, God recognizes us and enables us to enjoy His Love. Thus, our primary motive for obedience must be “to show God that we love Him.” This, in turn, will allow God to reveal himself to us and activate God’s power to work in our lives. John 14:23-24 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.”
• It Shows that we trust in God. Obedience can mean; following God’s lead even when we are unsure of the outcome. Obedience can be difficult at times. It may require sacrifice, going through tough times, and discipline. Our choice to obey therefore demonstrates our trust in God. It shows that even though it's hard, it makes sense we will still do it by obeying the Father.
• Unflinching faith results in acts of Obedience. By faith Noah, being warned by God constructed an ark. By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. By faith Abraham, took up to sacrifice Isaac. By faith Joshua and the children of Israel obeyed and went round the walls of Jericho.
• Obedience to God brings success and we are blessed. God’s will for our lives is that we must be successful. Success is not as the world defines it but as God defines it; that means accomplishing that, which we were created for. God never created us to fail or just to be average. God created us to be excellent. We should, therefore, not be guided by today's twisted gospel. The Lord promises in Mathew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
• When God’s children obey and do the deeds required by the Lord, then their Heavenly Father is exalted. Mathew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Of course, performing “good deeds” requires obedience to the One who calls us to good deeds. A Christian’s testimony of holiness is a strong witness that God is at work in the world. Psalms 128:1 “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.”
• When we obey the Lord, we can live a life of joy, without shame, rooted deeply in the Lord and confident in our eternal hope. II Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Dr Ashwin Drummond
Laddertoheaven.co.in