Friend, a trait we have in common is our desire to choose our own way, to be the director of the movie in which we are the star. But to obey God, we must step down from the director’s chair and permit him to take his rightful place in our lives as our sovereign Lord. Let us encourage one another in this way. We must strive to faithfully obey the Lord. I know that submission to authority is contrary to your nature. Nonetheless, submission is required of you, and for a very good reason. Your outward obedience to Christian precepts is proof to the world of your trust in Jesus, and your inward strivings to please the Lord in all you do is the beginning of discovering God’s will for your life.
Your outward obedience to Christian precepts is going to be a much easier task for you. God’s precepts are well-known in the Word and firmly established in the traditions of the church. You will find your open display of obedience less challenging as you spend time in the Word and permit Scripture to inform and motivate you. Fellowship with other Christians furthers your compliance, as good company begets good conduct in you. Christian obedience is the act of submitting to the will of God, your Creator, and your highest authority. If you have faith, obedience should become the daily practice of living by faith, obeying the teachings of the Bible, believing they are the guidestones that lead you to a more fulfilling life. To be truly obedient, you must remain in a proper relationship with Christ, acknowledging him as your Savior through grace alone — that you did nothing of merit sufficient to save yourself. Faith in Christ and gratitude for what he accomplished for you produces the power that leads to obedience. And this power is also not of yourself, but of the Holy Spirit, the helper Jesus promised for each of us. The more you strive to be obedient, the more your life becomes guided by the Holy Spirit. As your helper, he will not lead you astray. If you are willing to trust and obey God and try to live a holy life, he will reveal himself to you and direct your steps through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. This is the second form of obedience that is required of you, submission to God’s private and unique conversations delivered directly to you. You may call it your conscience, but I believe it is the Holy Spirit prompting you to discern God’s will for you, and then urging you to obey.
Living in obedience to God in all things, even the seemingly inconsequential details of day-to-day living, reveals your love and respect for him. Obedience is actually in itself a form of worship, acknowledging who God is and accepting your responsibility in relation to him. Remember, too, that every command God will make of you isn’t always only for his sake but for yours as well. The call to obedience is for your benefit because he knows what is best for you.
Through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus took away our just punishment and laid a new obligation to obedience upon us. All he asks in return is that we obey the new law: to love one another. That grace has taken the place of the old law does not mean that disobedience has replaced obedience. If we accept Jesus as our Savior, we must also accept him as our King to rule over us and, in doing so, reveal the moral characteristic of the life of Christ thriving within us. A disobedient life shows there is neither gratitude nor humility within you.
Friend, do not take salvation for granted and act as though you are unchanged. Train yourself to be godly, obey the Word, and rise above your nature, demonstrating your renewal so that others may wish to follow your example. Obedience to God is the sign of your sheer delight and joyful thankfulness for your salvation. You are to rid yourself of your former way of life and put on a new self, one created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Do not live the rest of your life for unholy desires, but rather for the will of God. If you are guided by the Holy Spirit, you will not obey the lusts of the flesh and temptations of evil. Act like Jesus and find yourself satisfied in higher and long-lasting ways.
To live by faith includes the discipline of prayer, commonly going to God in thanksgiving and requests. When you know that you are struggling to become or remain obedient, pray for guidance and inspiration; ask for self-control so that you may obey rather than rebel. Prayer itself is a form of obedience, for Scripture tells you to humble yourself and pray. And when a righteous person, a true believer committed to Christ, by his striving to live for God with increasing obedience presents a fervent prayer, it avails much. The more you depend on God, the more obedient you must be. He loves you and wants only what is best for you. And when you love him in return and walk faithfully with him, obeying from the heart all his commandments, good blessing will indeed come to you. Love God, your Father, your Christ, and your Helper; and obey him with a thankful heart. Amen.
