A Call For Obedience

During His earthly ministry, Jesus stressed the importance of being called to obedience. He wanted to make disciples: people who would follow Him. Accordingly, this life of obedience comes along with a divine assignment.

“Obedience,” wrote C.S. Lewis, “is the key to all doors.” What type of obedience does God require? Complete obedience. However, following the assignment or vision is not always easy.

But in the course of working out the assignment, we are bringing it to reality. Joseph had a dream about what God wanted him to become.  It was a vision. For this reason, he went through many challenges but didn’t give up because of the greater and brighter future he was seeing.

What Is Obedience to God?

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” Philippians 2:8-9

Obedience has to do with love, it comes with love. John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” The truth is that you will find it easy to obey who you love dearly. Anything they call you to do, you will gladly do it for them. 

In the same manner, when God called you, he called you to obey, which means he called you to love him.

Paul used to be a person that killed.  He thought he was doing the right thing according to the law, but it was direct disobedience to God. On his way to kill more Christians, Jesus called him and it was not just an ordinary call. Everything Christ told him, he obeyed.

Are you completing your divine assignment? Don’t forget that whatever He says, we must do. God will not tell us to do what we can’t handle or what will cause our downfall. 

Exodus 33:15 ~ “Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” When we hear whatever He [God] says, the next thing that should come to our mind is, “Do it.”

Rewards of Obedience to God        

Whatever God says and when we follow it, leads to success. The word of the Lord for us all of the time is for our own good. God told Joshua what to do to have success.  

He said he should do whatever is in His word and obediently follow it. Joshua 1:8 ~ “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Whatever God tells us, we shouldn’t try to change it or try to make an adjustment to suit our own desire. All we need to do is to simply obey. It has already been perfected by God for us to follow. 

He knows our capability. Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Jesus was at a wedding when the wine finished and His mother told Him about this.  Then she told the servant to do whatever Jesus asked them to do. John 2:5 “His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” They didn’t grumble, they merely obeyed what Jesus told them to do.

Yet, it is interesting to consider the instructions they obeyed – He told them to get six jars filled with water. What they needed was wine but Jesus telling them to get water is a bit surprising.

Obeying God Brings Protection

One of the commandments God gave us is, “you shall have no other gods before me.” The three Hebrew boys in Babylon obeyed God’s commandments and refused to bow down to the image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.

They didn’t change what God said in order to favor the situation they were in at that time. They acted in faith and didn’t care about their fate. As such, they survived a fiery furnace.  This is an excellent reminder that God surely has a way out of every uncomfortable situation.

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28). The three Hebrew boys tested their obedience when they were told to bow down and worship the image the king set up. 

They refused and responded to the king in Daniel 3:17-18 ~ “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Walk in Obedience

In the New Testament, we learn through the example of Jesus Christ that believers are called to a life of obedience.  Now, what is the work that you have been called to? 

Why do you still hesitate to commence the assignment? Don’t say you don’t have all you need to start.  That’s an excuse – get to work.

“Obedience is the burial of the will and the resurrection of humility.”
~ John Climacus

It doesn’t matter how you start but what matters is how you finish. Even the Bible admits that having faith without working is useless. James 2:26 ~ “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Take Action

Take time to prayerfully meditate on Philippians 2:8-9 and Jeremiah 29:11. Allow the Holy Spirit to flood your heart with light and grace. Then, go ahead and take that step to obey what God has called you to. 

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” ~ John 14:23

Just remember to obey and you shall have good success!