Trust and Obey
Obedience refers to hearing and harkening to God’s Words. It means acting on God's words and doing what God has asked us to do. The essence of obedience is surrendering to God’s authority and Word—doing anything God commands us to do, regardless of the cost.
Reasons to Obey God
Why is it important to obey God? Let's dive into five reasons.
1. Obeying God is an Act of Worship and Love for Him
God is worthy of our love, adoration, and worship. One way to demonstrate our praise and worship of God is by obeying His commands.
God has done much for us through Jesus Christ's death on the cross. We cannot help but do what He says—worship and please Him.
Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28)
As children of God, we are to obey his commands. By doing so, we demonstrate our love and worship. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
However, our obedience to God should come from the heart and not be done grudgingly.
2. God Rewards Obedience
Scripture says that God blesses and rewards obedience. In Genesis 22:18, God promised to bless Abraham's descendants because of his obedience.
" And through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me.”
The blessings we experience today are because our Father Abraham obeyed God. We should not just listen to the Word of God, but we should do (obey) what it says. When we do, God promises to reward us.
Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it (Luke 11:28)
If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; (Isaiah 1:19)
3. Obedience Demonstrates our Faith in God
We show our faith and trust in God by obeying Him. Also, when we obey, our faith in God increases. Hebrews Chapter 11 gives an account of heroes of faith because of their acts of obedience.
Through their obedience, their faith in God was built up such that they did exploits through God.
Faithful obedience, which shows our faith and trust in God, means obeying Him even if it does not make sense or when we are unsure of the outcome.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8)
If you obey God, you show Him you fully trust Him.
4. Unexpected Favor
God loves and shows favor to all His children. The stories of Noah and Ruth are splendid examples of how God favors those who walk in obedience.
Ruth blindly trusted Naomi, her mother-in-law, leading to her marriage to Boaz and a blessed future (Ruth is one of the women named in Jesus' genealogy).
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does (James 1:25)
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. For you to expect favor in your life, look for ways to exercise obedience to God and His Word.
5. Blessings
God has promised that if we obey Him, blessings will follow. The book of Deuteronomy outlines both blessings and curses that would occur if the Israelites obeyed Him. We receive blessings if we fully obey God.
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 1:2)
When we walk in obedience, we also become more powerful and authoritative. Our power does not come from the fact that we are in control of our lives but from the fact that we are obedient to the one in control.
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22)
When believers declare, “Not my will, Lord, but your will, it’s an act of surrender. Obeying God is a promised way to unlock Godly blessings. Let’s pursue obedience to God by making it a daily goal.
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