Shortened and Adapted teaching from Mary Fairchild from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has a lot to say about obedience. In the story of the Ten Commandments, we see just how important the concept of obedience is to God. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 sums it up like this: “Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed.” In the New Testament, we learn through the example of
Jesus Christ that believers are called to a life of obedience.
Definition of Obedience in the Bible:
- The general concept of obedience both in the Old and New Testament relates to hearing or hearkening to a higher authority.
- One of the Greek terms for obedience in the Bible conveys the idea of positioning oneself under someone by submitting to their authority and command.
- Another Greek word for obey in the New Testament means “to trust.”
- According to Holman’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, a succinct definition of biblical obedience is “to hear God’s Word and act accordingly.”
- Thus, biblical obedience to God means to hear, trust, submit and surrender to God and his Word.
3 Reasons Why Obedience to God Is Important:
- Jesus Calls Us to Obey: In Jesus Christ, we find the perfect model of obedience. As his disciples, we follow Christ’s example as well as his commands. Our motivation for obedience is love: If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15, ESV)
- Obedience Is an Act of Worship: While the Bible places a strong emphasis on obedience, it’s
critical to remember that believers are not justified (made righteous) by obedience. Salvation is a free gift of God, and we can do nothing to merit it. True Christian obedience flows from a heart of gratitude for the grace we have received from the Lord: And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (Romans 12:1, NLT) - God Rewards Obedience: Repeatedly we read in the Bible that God blesses and rewards obedience: “And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:18, NLT) Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 11:28, NLT). But don’t just listen to God’s word.
You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. (James 1:22–25, NLT)
3 Reasons Why Obedience Will Draw You Closer to God:
Anyone who wants to know God—to walk closely with Him—must obey Him. Sounds like a strong statement, doesn’t it? But there is no way that we can come into a close relationship with the Lord, walk fully in THE BLESSING and enjoy the communion that our spirits desire without obeying Him. – Own life example. If we will walk with Him, obey His Word, and follow the direction and
leading of the Holy Spirit, then we will enjoy the close relationship that we desire and relish the benefits of that relationship. Here are three reasons why obedience will draw you closer to the Lord:
Reason No. 1: When you are obedient, you can walk with God. No one can walk with God without
being obedient. Just look at these three examples of people in the Old Testament who enjoyed walking closely with the Lord and note how obedience played an important part in that relationship for each of them.
– Enoch: The Word records that “Enoch lived in close fellowship with God” for 300 years (Genesis
5:22)! Imagine spending 300 earthly years in close fellowship with the Lord—obeying His commands, learning His ways, and caring for the things that most concern Him. That was Enoch’s
life. And the result? Scripture tells us that Enoch did not experience an earthly death. Instead, “he
disappeared, because God took him” (verse 24).
– Noah: Noah lived during a dark time. Scripture tells us that evil had grown to such an extent on
the earth that “the Lord was sorry he had ever made [humanity]” (Genesis 6:6).
Then He said He would “wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and
I will destroy every living thing” (verse 7). It was a desolate time, but then the Lord looked and saw
Noah. The Word notes that “Noah found favour with the Lord” (verse 8). Instead of conforming to
the wickedness of the civilization around him, Noah upheld morality and goodness. The result of
Noah’s obedience was that he and his entire family were saved from the flood that destroyed every
other living thing on earth.
Reason No. 2: When you are obedient, you can obey God’s voice and be blessed. There are many
good and kind people in the world who are without a relationship with the Lord and therefore cannot hear and follow His voice. As believers, we, on the other hand, have the ability to follow God and obey His voice. This is a privilege that belongs to His children. We can know His voice and nature through His Word, His Holy Spirit, and the wisdom He gives to other believers (i.e., pastors, ministers, mentors, prayer partners, godly friends, etc.).
Deuteronomy 4:5-6 says, “Look, I now teach you these decrees and regulations just as the Lord
my God commanded me, so that you may obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy.
Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding
nations.” When we follow God’s voice, we help others see His wisdom and hopefully draw them
to Him, too. While God loves and shows favour to all of His children, Scripture is clear that there is an inherent blessing that comes as a result of obedience.
Reason No. 3: When you are obedient, you’re trusting God to be God. Obeying God means moving
aside and allowing God—His Word, His Holy Spirit and His way of operating—to move in our
lives. It means trusting (having faith) that He will be true to His Word. When we obey, we don’t try
to control our lives and the situations around us by our own human strength. Instead, we focus on the Lord by keeping Him and His Word before our eyes and allowing Him to have His way and trusting that He will fulfil His promises.
We cannot claim to love God without obeying Him and His Word. Let’s commit to obey Him
with heartfelt love and show an appreciation for all He has done for us. We serve a big, magnificent, awe-inspiring God. Let’s obey Him immediately and wholeheartedly so we can walk with Him closely and enjoy the benefits of our obedience!