Obedience

 

    Obedience is love in action.  It is when you voluntarily submit to God's authority and commands.  It is an act of faith and trust.  It comes from the heart rather than duty.  You hear and respond to God's Word.  Obedience is proof of your love for God.  It is the result of faith that becomes the foundation for your life.  It is not about the rules.  It is about your relationship with God empowered by the Holy Spirit.

    You will never be able to overcome sin or remove it from your life on your own.  It takes having faith in Jesus to have it removed.  Then you start to live your life like him to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to change your heart desires.  It is not about the rules.  It is about wanting to be closer to God.

    Jesus is perfection.  He has already been the sacrifice for your imperfection.  The Holy Spirit enables your heart to change, but you have to choose obedience to able to change.  You will never be perfect in life, but you do change and know more often when you are not obedient.

    Jesus is righteousness.  If you choose to follow him in faith, then you become righteous.  He is truth that feeds life into your life.  You are never without hope.  Don't give up.  Keep pursuing God because He never stops seeking a close relationship with you.  The more you pursue Jesus the more you will become like him.  

    The more you try to be perfect the more disappointed you will be in life.  You will burnout and want to give up.  You will experience frustration and independence that isolates you from God.  Do not try to do it on your own.  It is not worth it.  Don't focus on the dos and don'ts.  Instead focus on where you are with Jesus today.  He is calling to you.  All you have to do is respond and follow.  

    In reality obedience is choosing Jesus everyday.  It is real moments in life, not just one or two choices that make you better than who you were or other people.  It is personal and doesn't involve anyone other than you and God.  Understanding the truth will transform you from the inside out.  The love that drives obedience sets you free.

Deuteronomy 5:32-33, 1 Samuel 15:22-23, Luke 11:28, John 14:15-21, Acts 5:29-32, Colossians 3:1-17, & James 1:22-25