Obedience equates to love
When we think of obedience, we often think about a parent telling their child to follow the rules. Perhaps you remember as a child, being obedient meant making your bed, finishing your vegetables, and not talking back. This earthly example is one of the ways that God shows us the importance of obedience.
But we also have the spiritual and physical example that Jesus demonstrated to the Father. In His perfect submission and obedience to the Father, He went to the cross willingly to sacrifice His life for all of humanity. So how do we show that we truly love God? Jesus sums it up in the book of John 14:15 - “If you love me, keep my commandments.” He also adds in John 14:21 - “He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me, and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest myself to Him.” Obedience - is what God sees as love.
John also tells us in 2 John 1:6- “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments.” It is pretty simple - Obedience equates to love. So what are the commands that Jesus gives us? Well there are many commands that Jesus gave in the New Testament including - Repent, Love your enemies, Forgiveness, and more. But Jesus summed it up in Matthew 22:35-40 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘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. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
So many of us will say we love God, but are we being obedient to what He calls us to do? Many of. us want our prayers answered and yet are we being obedient to His commands? Many want God to manifest Himself to them and give them discernment, but my question remains - where is our obedience to Him? Why do we make demands of God and continue to walk in disobedience?
1 Samuel 15:22 says '“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams, For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolaltry. Notice what the Bible says about obedience -it is better than sacrifice to God. He goes on to say that rebelliousness or disobedience is like witchcraft and stubbornness is likened to iniquity and idol worship. These are heavy words for disobedience.
But there is hope, take the time to come before the Lord and ask Him to reveal any rebellion or disobedience in your heart. Confess and repent, and ask Him to cleanse you of all unrighteousness. God will never force us to obey, it has to be an inward act of the heart towards Him.
As it says in Isaiah 1:18-20 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”
***If you are struggling with how to be obedient in your life to what God has commanded - schedule an appointment today and let’s create an action plan to help you. Also be sure to subscribe to receive newsletters about upcoming workshops on this topic and more!
