How to be Obedient
“So, Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” I Samuel 15:22
In our daily life, we know that obedience is a very essential habit. We follow this common moral in our homes, workplaces and in the communities, which we live in. In simple terms, obedience goes together with an order, request, law, or submission to another authority.
Edwin Louis says, “Obedience is an act of faith; disobedience is the result of unbelief.”
The bible also talks a lot about obedience as it is seen in many scriptures.
Children are asked to obey their parents in Ephesians 6:1 as this is the right way to behave as a child in a family. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right”
ILL: James T. White has said that perhaps the most effective illustration of obedience is the reply of the mother of George Washington made at the banquet given to the allied officers after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. A distinguished French officer asked Washington's mother how she managed to rear such a splendid son. She replied, "I taught him to obey.
Why is obedience important to God and our spiritual growth? Because Jesus calls us to obey. Because it is an act of worship that proves our love and demonstrates our faith to the Lord. Because God rewards those who obey with the blessing of eternal life and freedom from sin and death. As Christians, God calls us to obey Him and His word. And we must obey Him with a heart of integrity, humility, without hesitation, and total surrender. Because, dear brothers and sisters, obedience is the very best way to show that we believe.
I.Obedience through Integrity:
When talking about the necessary qualities for a Christian heart, integrity is one quality that cannot be ignored. Because it is a type of heart that God desires. It was with such an honest heart that God boasted saying that David was a man after His own heart, Acts 13:22.
Heart of Integrity:
David was a King who loved and obeyed God throughout his life. Like King David, we must have a heart of integrity. Integrity is described as meaning to be honest and truthful. David obeyed God with an honest and truthful heart. The Bible says, in Psalm 119:10 “With my whole heart I have sought you.”
Although this may not illustrate how many people see the ‘greatness’ of King David or of how strong and powerful he was. Obedience reveals the hidden character of David that God desires and what God looks for in all of us…in fact in 1 Samuel 16:7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Samuel had said while anointing David as King of Israel, “…man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart…” God is pleased when we walk with integrity. Proverbs 11:20 the Lord says that, “while He detests people with crooked and twisted hearts, He does delight in those with integrity.”
Integrity is about being honest, fair, with a strong sense of what’s right and wrong. It’s holding on to morals and ethical principles. It also illustrates a person’s character and who they truly are. Integrity is about who we are on the inside more than what we portray ourselves to others. It is about what is right even when there is no one else looking. David portrays this as he spares Saul’s life in a cave. 1 Samuel 24:4-6 “And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”
Dear brothers and sisters, we must show obedience with a heart of integrity, a heart of honesty. It is easy to obey God when others are watching, but we must all hold a heart of honesty in order to obey God’s word when others are not watching. We must show integrity through keeping our word even when it hurts, through being honest with our dealing, though practicing morality with both our bodies and minds, and though admitting mistakes and doing what is necessary for redemption.
Practice obedience with a heart of integrity. God is pleased when we walk with integrity.
II. Obedience through Humility
Let us meditate about a man who came from Syria to Israel. The Bible tells about his testimonial statement in the book of 2 Kings 5:15 “ And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”
Now, just like David, Naaman was also a remarkably successful general with important military victories under his belt. But beyond that, he was also known as a man of great character and integrity. However, he was not a believer of the One True God, but by all external measures, he was a good man. However, 2 Kings 5:1 ends with “but he was a leper.”
A young Jewish girl - a servant in Naaman's house - told his wife about a man in Israel that could cure Naaman. Naaman took generous gifts to the king of Israel, rather than to Elisha, the man of God. The frightened king, knowing he could not heal Naaman, was glad when Elisha called for Naaman.
2 Kings 5: 9-10 “Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.”
Now verse 11 presents Naaman’s unhappiness. He wanted and expected healing on his terms. But … the fact that Naaman remained afflicted betrayed how little he really knew about healing. It wasn’t until he humbled himself and followed the prophet’s — that is God’s — instructions that healing came.
The required humility and obedience to God were two things Naaman was not in the habit of practicing. Elisha demonstrated to the general that no one approaches God without obedience and humility. We are beggars before Him and not conquering heroes. We have not earned and we do not deserve the things we receive from God’s hand, whether it is the daily grace He pours out or healing from leprosy or the salvation we are blessed with as believers.
We can see ourselves in Naaman. All too often we try to lay down terms and attempt to tell God how and when He should intervene. And then I wonder why things don’t change. Naaman teaches us that we cannot design or dictate my own solutions. He also teaches us that humility and obedience are the keys to approaching God.
When Naaman decided to obey God's Word, did he just sprinkle some water from the Jordan River on his face? Did he just pour some water on his head? No, he dipped himself in the Jordan River. After the sixth dip, what was his physical condition? He was still a leper. What if Naaman had said, "It isn't going to work," and stopped after the sixth time? He would have gone home as a leper. But, when he dipped the seventh time, he was cured; the Bible says his skin became like the skin of a little child! The plan for his cleansing was not devised by man. The cure did not come when he believed the instruction of the prophet and repented, going to the Jordan River. The cure came after he fulfilled the command of God completely.
Naaman, a commander of the Syrian Army. Although he was a gentile, he obeyed the one true God and was healed. Like Commander Naaman, we must have a heart of humility. We must humble ourselves to obey God’s words. You can not be prideful AND listen to God. That does not work. Even Naaman learns that there is only one true God.
Benjamin Franklin says, “Let their child's first lesson be obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt.”
III. Obedience without Hesitation
Acts 5:29 “ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
Why did Jesus choose these men to follow Him? Jesus chose men who would show the world that the kingdom of God is now for both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus did this to show that we are all called and can learn and understand God. We can all follow Him as the Apostles did.
Following Jesus
Peter was a fisherman who God called to be a fisher of men. He showed obedience to God through being a disciple of Jesus Christ and an apostle to the world. Like the Apostle Peter, we must obey God without hesitation. Peter chose to be different from the world and follow God, just as we should also choose to follow God and be different in our schools and the world.
When Jesus called His first disciples in Matthew 4:18-21, He said “follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people,” and they left their nets and followed him “at once.” Jesus saw two other brothers along the way, and called them too. “Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”. They had zero hesitation to follow Jesus. We so often deny obedience to the Lord for various reasons.
Obeying Jesus
There is a beautiful passage in Luke 5:1-10. There are 5 steps we can see how Peter obeyed Jesus without hesitation. In these verses, we are given an outline of obedience. Luke 5:2 says Peter was nearby listening to Jesus. The Lord knew that he was there and that he had an empty boat. Dear children, are you nearby listening to Jesus. Peter was always close with Jesus. He was one of the inner-circle disciples. Secondly, verse 2 tells us that Jesus entered Peter’s boat so He would be able to address the crowd better. We should allow our Lord into our boat called life. He wants to enter your life and dwell in you. Thirdly, verse 4 & 5 tells that Peter listened to Jesus’ request. He responded by explaining that he was completely unsuccessful the night before in his attempt to catch fish. Nevertheless, he obeyed the Lord, raised the sails on his ship, and headed out into deep water. Finally, verse 6 remarkably says, Peter received the reward of his obedience. They caught a great number of fish, and their nets were breaking. When we listen to the Word of God, allow him into our life, and obey his command, we will receive a great reward of blessings.
Church, we can not obey if we hesitate. God calls us to obey Him without hesitation. Let Him lead our life, and do not hesitate to follow, because God is calling out to us today. Like Peter, we may be mere people, but God call on everyone to come and obey him.
IV. Obedience through Absolute Surrender
John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
“Of all the lessons we learn from the life of the Savior, none is more clear and powerful than the lesson of obedience, taught” - Elder Robert D. Hales from the Church of Jesus Christ.
The Savior’s example teaches us not only why obedience to Heavenly Father is important but also how we can be obedient.”.
At the age of 12, when Joseph and Mary found Jesus teaching in the temple, He “was subject unto them,” and obediently returned home with them; He kept the Sabbath and attended services in the synagogues. And although Jesus was without sin, he submitted to baptism “to fulfill all righteousness. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He accepted to be an example for us to overcome our temptations. But most importantly, the greatest form of obedience our Savior displayed was when Jesus submitted to be judged and suffer at the hands of men that the Father’s work and glory might come to pass.
Why should we obey our Heavenly father?
For Christ Himself, the second person of the trinity, to live out in minute detail what God had said speaks volumes about the authority that Scripture is to have in our lives.
All that Christ did in His life on earth was done according to the Scriptures. What God had spoken in the Old Testament was so authoritative Christ obeyed it completely. “Now this took place that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled” (Matthew 21:4).
Philippians 2: 7-9 writes, “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name”
Jesus showed us the greatest form of obedience to God. Like Jesus Christ, we must fully submit ourselves to God. Jesus’ obedience to God gave us eternal life. And because of Jesus’ obedience He is now seated at the right hand of the father. When we fully submit to God, He will also bless us abundantly. Jesus is the supreme model of obedience for us. He led a life to be an example unto believers, and because of his obedience we are saved.
Jesus’ life was decided by the Will of God. Rather than creating His own path, He gave full submission and surrender to God’s will through obedience. Dear brothers and sisters, this is how God calls us to obey. Show obedience to God through full surrender and submission to His will.
In Conclusion:
Whenever we take the opportunity to actively love God in personal obedience, we end up sensing a new tenderness in our hearts toward Him and a stronger resolve to obey again next time. Obedience is not an end, but a means-a means to express our love to God, and a means to increase our love for God. It is a catalyst in the process of loving God and becoming more like Jesus."
The story is told of an eleventh-century German king, King Henry III, who, having grown tired of palace life and the pressures of being a monarch. So, he applied to a monastery to be accepted for a life of contemplation. The religious superior of the monastery, Richard, is reported to have said, “Your Majesty, do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”
Henry replied, “I understand. The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.” “Then I will tell you what to do,” said Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has placed you.”
When King Henry III died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.” Like King Henry, we too need to be reminded that God has placed each of us in a particular place to be faithful there. You may be a software engineer, nurse, accountant, mother, father, or whatever, God expects us to be faithful where he has placed us.
Dear brothers, sisters, and children: God calls us to obey Him and His word. And we must obey Him with a heart of integrity, humility, without hesitation, and total surrender. God rewards those who obey with the blessing of eternal life and freedom from sin and death. Amen.
