Obedience to God's Word

 

    Jesus is the ultimate teacher on obedience.  He was obedient to God to the point of death.  He died in place of you, me, and anyone else willing to follow.  You may not have to be obedient to the point of physical death, but you do have to be willing.  You do have to be obedient to the point that you put to death your personal desires and allow the Holy Spirit change them into holy desires.

    Your salvation is about walking in faith, but you can't walk in faith if you are not obedient.  The path is only clear when you are obedient to God.  You have to submit to His way, purpose, and glory.  Your heart changes at salvation and start down the new path at your baptism.  The more you pour yourself into God's Word the more you are able to see how to be obedient His way.

    Being obedient to God's Word is educating yourself, prayerfully searching, and willingness to let it change you.  Commentaries and Bible studies are great tools to help, but they are not necessary.  Prayer journals help you see your growth, but you don't have to do them.  All you need is God, your Bible, and an open heart and mind to conviction and truth.  

    Glorify God by aligning your life to reflect God's Word. Have it become a vital part of your lifestyle.  Be willing to get out of your comfort zone.  The truth is that you need God to transform your life here and now.  It is more than just getting into Heaven.  It is about purpose and drive while you live.  Obedience to God's Word leads to blessings here and now.  You don't have to wait for eternity.

Genesis 22:15-18, Exodus 20:1-17, John 17:1-8, Philippians 1:3-6, & Colossians 3:12-17

Perks of Obedience

 

    When you go through life independent from God you may feel in control.  You may feel like life is good.  You may be having a good time, but you are missing out.  Being obedient to God is not a chore.  It is the path to true freedom.  It doesn't make life easier per se, but it does give it clarity, certainty, and direction.  When confusion sets in that means that Satan is trying to get a foothold somewhere.  He is causing strife.

    Life may be simpler alone, but it is a lot more responsibility.  You don't have anyone to rely on.  You have twice as much work.  When you are tired you don't get rest.  When you need help you have to figure it out.  When you are attacked you are easier to take down.  Like it or not, you need God and other Christians in your life.  

    Fellow believers are the perks of obedience.  Perks are blessings, peace of mind, confidence, and knowing that you are not alone in the worst parts of life.  Christians were never meant to be isolated.  You can never carry out God's plan for your life alone.  Everyone needs encouragement, help, and fellowship.  

    Pray that God opens your eyes to His presence, your isolation spots, the people He put in your life, and your needs that can be fulfilled by other people if you are willing to ask.  God loves you.  He doesn't want you isolated because He created people to need each other.  That is why being a part of a church is important.  It is more than preaching, teaching, and learning.  It is about fellowship God's way.  It is learning how to work together, forgive, and love like Jesus.  It is living life together and not just meeting once a week to check in.

Psalm 46:10-11, Colossians 3:12-17, & Hebrew 10:23-25

Obedient Attitude

 

    Your attitude is a decision.  There are a lot of factors like your temperament, disposition, how you were raised, and more, but you decide what you are going to do with that.  An obedient attitude is choosing to listen and obey where it is God, government, employer, parent, or spouse.  You are in control of how you act and respond.

    If you are a Christian, then you are called to be holy.  Part of holiness is being obedient.  Choosing to be obedient to God sets you apart.  It clarifies that you belong to Him.  Jesus set the example and told you what you have to do.  All you have to do is obey in love.  If you belong to God, then your identity in Him never changes.  You just need to show up.  He will take the lead and never misdirect you.  

    Pray over your attitude and where your heart is today.  Are there areas where you need to submit?  Have you discovered any hang ups that you need to surrender to be obedient?  Is there anything about your attitude that is keeping you from looking like Jesus?  Give it over to God and embrace the peace you get from letting go.  Find thanksgiving in your heart for all you do have.

    If you feel broken, then let God heal you.  If you are angry, then allow the Holy Spirit take it away.  Replace it with peace.  If you are hurting, then remember that it will serve a purpose.  Endure what you must, but do not allow the world to destroy your attitude because God will restore you.  Be patient, kind, forgiving, humble, and loving.  How you live out today does matter.  It will lead to righteousness or something else.  You are the image bearer of Jesus to the world.

Ephesians 4:20-24, Philippians 1:27-30, 2:5-8, Colossians 3:12-17, & 1 Peter 3:8-12, 4:1-3

Holy Obedience

 

    Holy obedience is putting God in the place of authority over your life.  It is learning to understand who he is while growing closer to Him in a personal relationship.  You realize that you can never have salvation and what your soul is seeking without Him.  Once the pieces are in place obedience is the obvious answer.  It comes from love.

    In holy obedience you choose salvation, baptism, time in God's Word, prayer, meditation, fasting, and sacrifice.  All of this transforms your heart to live your life more like Jesus.  Obedience is not effort for control.  It is accepting God's grace and making it a part of who you are while accepting His favor.      

    Jesus the the only bridge between you and God.  Holy obedience is praising and worshipping in your heart and mind where it comes out in your words and actions.  Obedience is your choice.  You choose to obey your parents, employers, government, and God.  

    How you obey is also up to you.  You can do it grudgingly or in love.  Love is what makes obedience holy and blameless.  It can't be faked.  It turns duty into delight.  Work can become worship. You don't have to complain or gossip to make obedience work for you.  

    When you become a Christian you give your life over to God to mold how He sees fit.  He will mold you to serve your purpose, give you peace, and make you holy.  You were given a new life.  Don't waste it.  Life consist of moments.  What moments matter most to you?  

    When you listen to the Holy Spirit in obedience, then the moments have more impact over time.  It takes time to become obedient.  Do not try to rush the process.  Grow everyday in truth and love to become incorruptible and righteous.  Allow your heart to become compassionate, kind, humble, meek, and patient.  

Matthew 5:13-16, Luke 14:15-24, 16:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, Ephesians 3:14-19, 4:20-24, 6:10-18, Colossians 3:12-17,  & Titus 2:9-10

Responding in Obedience

 

    When you respond to God in obedience it is refreshing for your life and soul.  Sin contaminates everything.  It makes life more difficult.  It places confusion upon your mind.  It leaves your emotions in turmoil.  Your body may get sick.  Sin may feel good in the moment, but the long term affects are not worth it.  It poisons your soul.  While obedience gives clarity, truth, peace, and sometimes healing.

    Becoming like Jesus is a process.  You will not be perfect at it.  The Holy Spirit will make you deal with all your hang ups, sin holds, and hidden sin to get closer to Jesus.  Remember what you are working toward and hold onto your worship.  You will get through it if you are obedient.  God is right there going through it with you as you move toward purity and desire to honor God.

    Pray over the sins in are aware of in your life.  Ask God for direction on how to deal with them.  Next ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden sins in your heart and mind.  Just because you are not currently aware of them doesn't mean you don't need to deal with them.  Ask Him to help you deal with it.  He will reveal, convict, and help you process as you work through your sin life with Him.  You just have to be willing to follow obediently.

2 Corinthians 7:1-4, Colossians 3:5-11, & 1 John 3:1-3

Distraction from Obedience

 

    It takes intentionality and self-discipline to stay close to God.  If you don't spend time with a person it doesn't mean you don't care, but you do lose your closeness.  God is not the one moving.  He is always there.  He is always ready for a relationship with you.  You are as close to God as you want to be today.  If you want to be closer, then you have to make time to develop and build the relationship.

    You are either obedient or disobedient to God.  You either pursue that relationship or you do not.  It is when you allow yourself to get distracted that little sins start to become big all  consuming sins.  You may be naturally ambitious, but if you don't keep that in check with God then you can turn money, power, or work into your god.  

    When you pray ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truths about yourself and strongholds in your life.  Be open and accept what He reveals, so that you can decide to become obedient or not in the area.  Distraction is the biggest thing you have to fight to be focused.  When you are focused it is easier to be obedient.  Distraction can lead to covetness.  Covetousness is greedy desire to have more.

    You are not just fighting human nature.  You are fighting against the culture to have a strong relationship with God.  Choosing obedience is how you can destroy the gods you have made in your life.  Obedience leads to mercy.  The process of finding all the roots to your sin to dig them out and destroy them is easy.  It takes work and surrender to God.  You have to become repulsed by your sin or it will always have a small hold on you.

    When you really focus on your relationship with God and decide to remove distractions, then you are able to admit that you have a problem.  You are choosing to allow the Holy Spirit to grow within you, but Satan doesn't want to give up what he has.  You have to put in work to run the good race of love and obedience God's way.  

Romans 6:12-14, 13:11-14, Galatians 5:24-26, Ephesians 4:20-23, Colossians 3:5-11,& Hebrews 12:1-4

Obedience in Righteousness

 

    Everyday is full of choices.  Will I follow Jesus or personal desires?  Will I make time for my relationship with God or will I fill it with stuff?  Will I walk in faith or the flesh?  Even if you are a Christian, you can act like the world at times.  You get distracted or disoriented, but that is why you need invest in time with God.  Obedience comes from righteousness to win spiritual battles, not trying to be good enough.

    Start your day confessing anything that is weighing on your heart, evil desires, wrong attitudes, or sins that you may need to confess to God.  Make room for the Holy Spirit to be able to work before facing your day.  Slow down long enough to really get what you need for the day.  Enjoy your time with God because it produces life into your life.  Embrace your justification and sanctification to become more like Jesus every day.

    Allow the Holy Spirit to empower and transform you into a person that desire obedience so that you can fulfill your purpose in this world in love.  The choices you make today matter.  Allow the Holy Spirit to help you remove sin from your life.  

    Your choices lead you toward obedience or away from it.  What does your heart truly desire?  Will you endure for righteousness or give into seemingly harmless indulgences?  Will you become strong in your faith or be a puppet to your sin.  It is not called spiritual warfare for nothing.  It can tear you apart from the inside or you can surrender it to God to allow Him to fight the majority of the battles.

Romans 5:18-19, 6:15-23, 7:14-17, Galatians 5:1-18, & Colossians 3:5-11