Obedience does not come easily to us. All one needs to do is spend time with a toddler and perhaps take note of how many times one hears them say , “No”. Trust me it is often!
Two quotes read several years ago come to mind. Let me share …
“Believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ and obeying God’s Word is the only way we can experience true and lasting positive transformation.”
(Kate Motaung, Five Minute Friday)
The quote stayed in my thoughts and eventually formed an equation in my mind:
Believing + Obeying = True + Positive Transformation
Obedience is not easy because we want what we want; or we think we know better; or we don’t trust the one telling us what we need to do. None of these are wise or valid reasons.
Somehow we think if we obey, we are going to miss out on something. We feel like we are being boxed into doing something we don’t want to do.
Perhaps we need to change our impression of “obedience”. This second quote helps us out:
“For obedience is not a stodgy plodding in the ruts of religion, it is a hopeful race toward God’s promises.”
(Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, page 168)
Obedience births a hope in God’s promises because we know God is a covenant-keeping God. He always keeps His promises.
In Deuteronomy 28, we read:
“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God.” (verses 1-2, NASB)
This section in Deuteronomy spells out the ways God would reward obedience. As blessings are received, our faith increases for we gain experiential knowledge of the character of God.
We obey because
God is good and He is faithful.
He is a covenant-keeping God!
Pam Ecrement shared this thought: “We have all manner of devices that tell or remind us of what time it is, but they cannot tell us where we are on God’s clock.” You can read her post, The Trouble with Time, HERE.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
**This is an edited post which first appeared at HERE.
Photo by Josh Gordon on Unsplash
Today I am joining …
I don’t think I ever thought before that obedience is not just a response to faith, but a result of faith. When we truly believe God, we’ll obey even if the circumstances don’t make sense. I love Peterson’s quote.
JoAnne, remembering God’s character makes all the difference. I don’t want to obey someone I don’t trust. I like Peterson’s quote too. “Hopeful race toward God’s promises.”
This is a comforting truth, Joanne, “Obedience births a hope in God’s promises because we know God is a covenant-keeping God.”
Joanne, I love that obedience is not a resigned effort of faith, but a joyful sacrifice of love resulting from complete trust in a good God.
Powerful message, Joanne. I want that “true and lasting positive transformation.”
Obedience is always for our good and God’s glory!
Powerful equation – It took me years understanding soul transformation and recognizing not only that I needed it (which part of me did but didn’t realize the God-factor of it all) or recognized how I needed it. I think because I pressed in – though I didn’t understand so very much – and I sought Him, and in the seeking sought to obey – which meant giving up my control to His authority – I think it is then that my heart awakened to the need for transformation – though only in a very miniscule way. I had to move beyond the baffling, “Why would He created me only to change me? It has been a multi-decade transformation and is still in progress. Thanks, friend, for this insightful post.
I think it all comes down to “Trust and Obey,” which is a wonderful hymn and a slogan by which to live our lives. There’s no other way to be happy!
Thanks for sharing that Peterson quote. I must save it and remind myself I’m on a “hopeful race to God’s promises.”
Joanne, I love this! I believe so much, if not all of our walk, hinges on obedience. So often the Bible says, if you do this…then I will do this… We cannot overemphasize the critical role obedience plays.
Joanne, I love this! I believe so much, if not all of our walk, hinges on obedience. So often the Bible says, if you do this…then I will do this… We cannot overemphasize the critical role obedience plays.
Love the Peterson wisdom!
And I am reminded of Psalm 103 where it describes those who “remember his commandments.to do them.”
Obedience as a hopeful race. I love this thought.
I’ve been listening to a series on the Pentateuch and thinking about the combination of faith and obedience in Abraham’s life. So, I found your post very timely.
In this world we will have trouble! But being obedient and trusting of His way brings a peaceful mind and soul, no matter what. This is a principle I need to surrender to everyday!
Joanne, what a comforting and compelling post. This is just what I needed to hear today.
Visiting from #17&18
Joanne, I always love a good spiritual equation. 🙂 I’ve been thinking about breaking out “A Long Obedience … “ again””now I think so even more. â¤ï¸