“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28)
Obedience involves listening attentively with a heart willing to obey God’s word.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has a lot to say about obedience. In the Ten Commandments, God gives us laws that we should obey and in Deuteronomy 11:26-28 He sums it up like this: “Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed.” And in the New Testament, we learn through the example of Jesus Christ that believers are called to a life of obedience.
Today, we are not called to obey the Law of Moses, because that has been fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 5:17). We are to obey the “law of Christ,” which is a law of love (Galatians 6:2; John 13:34). Jesus stated the two greatest commands of obedience when He said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-39).
If we love God, we will obey Him and will have a desire to submit to the Lord, and when we love God and obey Him, we naturally have love for one another. Obedience to God’s commands will make us light and salt in a dark and tasteless world (Matthew 5:13-16).
Obedience to God proves our love for Him (1 John 5:2-3), demonstrates our faithfulness to Him (1 John 2:3-6), glorifies Him in the world (1 Peter 2:12), and opens avenues of blessings for us (John 13:17).
The Bible has much to say about obedience. In fact, obedience is an essential part of the Christian faith. Jesus Himself was “obedient unto death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). For Christians, the act of taking up our cross and following Christ (Matthew 16:24) means obedience. The Bible says that we show our love for Jesus by obeying Him in all things: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). And when we do not obey – Jesus asks: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).
When we look up the meaning of obedience it is defined as “dutiful submissive compliance to the commands of one in authority.” Using this definition, we will see the elements of biblical obedience.
- Dutiful, means it is our obligation to obey God, just as Jesus fulfilled His duty to the Father by dying on the cross for our sin.
- Submissive, indicates that we yield our will to God’s.
- Commands, speaks of the Scriptures in which God has clearly delineated His instructions. And,
- One in authority, is God Himself, whose authority is total and indisputable.
For the Christian, obedience means complying with everything God has commanded, and we obey Him because we love Him (John 14:23) and should do so with a grateful and humble heart for what He has done for us.
When we obey the Lord, we can live a life of joy, without shame, rooted deeply in the Lord and confident in our eternal hope. Because, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). Our obedience is actually part of our assurance that we truly know God because we keep His commandments (1 John 2:3).
When God’s children obey their Heavenly Father, He is glorified. Jesus told us that the plan is for others to “see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Of course, to perform “good deeds” requires obedience to the One who calls us to do good deeds.
A Christian’s testimony of holiness is a strong witness that God is at work in the world and the Bible tells us that God blesses and rewards obedience. Therefore, we are to listen to the word and do what it says (James 1:22). Because, “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to Him” (Psalm 128:1).
We must always remember not to be like the Pharisees in Jesus’ time, which relentlessly pursued acts of obedience to the Law, but they became self-righteous, believing they deserved heaven because of what they had done. They considered themselves worthy before God, and expected Him to owe them a reward; however, the Bible tells us that, without Christ, even our best, most righteous works “are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).
The Pharisees’ external obedience however lacked humility, honesty, sincerity and truth; and Jesus exposed their attitude of heart. Their hypocrisy in obeying the “letter of the law” while violating its spirit characterized their lives, and Jesus rebuked them sharply: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so you also appear righteous to men outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:27-28). The Pharisees had an outward appearance of being obedient, but they “neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23).
We can never be prideful about how perfectly we are obeying God because He is continually asking us to move into new levels of growth. Nor can we go to the other extreme, saying “This is just the kind of person I am, undisciplined, un-changeable and un-teachable.” We have no excuse for not doing what we need to do when God says He will enable us to do it. All we need to do is to call upon Him for help.
Therefore, we should say “Lord, help me to be disciplined enough to obey You the way You want me to, so that I can become the person You created me to be.” God will hear our plea and will enable us to obey because, once we believe in Christ and are saved we are not the same people we once were; because, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Jesus told His followers about being obedient when He said: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:21).
Please remember that, “God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger” (Romans 2:6-8).
So which will you choose – temporal pleasures without obedience, or submission and eternal life?
*******
Mission Venture Ministries 
Hi ,
( Luke 11: 28) states,
‘Jesus said, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.’
These are the blessings of hearing & keeping the word of God _:
##############
1) We get the life.
‘Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ ( Matthew. 4: 4)
2) ‘We get everlasting life.
( John 5 :24 ) states,
‘ Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word & believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life & shall not come into condemnation. ‘
3) That means, we will never see death. ( John 8 : 51 )
4)’ We will understand the knowledge of The MostHigh. (Num. 24 :16 ) and,
5)’ May become the partakers of the divine nature.'( 2 Peter 1: 4)
6) ‘The love of God will
remain in us.'(1John 2 : 5 )
7) The word will keep us from sinning.
( Psalm .119: 11)
8) Whatever we will ask
it will be done (John 15:7 )
9) We will be complete, & equipped for every good work. ( 2 Timo. 3 :17)
10) ‘Nothing will offend us.’
( Psalm 119 :165)
11) We will bringforth fruit with patience.( Luke 8:15 )
12) We can fight with
satan.’ ( Ephesians 6:17)
13)’ God’s word will be a lamp to our feet & a light to our path.’ (Psa.119 :105)
And,
14) ‘Jesus will like us unto a wise man.'( Matt. 7 : 24)
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By: Usha Borde on August 5, 2024
at 9:40 am
Thank you Usha for your contribution with these wonderful verses from the Word of God. Blessings to you and yours.
By: missionventureministries on August 7, 2024
at 12:43 pm
Hi , Thanks for your mail. lt is a blessing to me as l have noted down your quotation from your great posts to send to others.
By: Usha Borde on August 7, 2024
at 4:21 pm
lsaiah 43:18-19 states, ‘Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.’
From God’s point of view. past things means the rules and regulations of The Law, He had given to obey.
Now we do not have to obey the Law, as He made New Covenant.
About trusting in The Lord. lsaiah 43 :10) says, ‘ Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, & my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know, believe me & understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.’
These are the blessings believers get by keeping faith on God. _: ########
1) Salvation :
‘ He said to the woman, who was anointing His feet with oil, “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. ‘(Luke 7 : 50)
2) They are chosen people :
‘ Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith ?. ‘ (James 2: 5 )
3) Become justified people :
‘ By him all that believe are justified from all things, ‘ ( Acts 13 : 39 )
4) They get _:
!) Power to become the sons of God:
‘As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.’ (John 1 : 12,)
!! ) All things :
‘All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, belie ving, ye shall receive.’ ( Matthew 21 : 22 )
iii) Honour :
‘ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious. ( 1 Peter 2 : 7 )
iv) Healing & health :
‘The prayer of faith shall save the sick, the Lord shall raise him up & if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.,’ ( James 5 : 15)
‘ He that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.'( Prov. 28 : 25 )
v) Protection :
( Proverbs 29 : 25 ) ‘Whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.’
vi) Victory over the world
( 1 John 5 : 4 ) ‘ This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’
vii) Perfect peace
. (lsaiah 26 : 3) ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.’
viii) Eternal life :
( 1 John 5 : 13 ) ‘Who believe on the name of the Son of God; may have eternal life.’
( Hebrews 12 : 2 ) states, ‘Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.’
‘ Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith ?. ‘ (James 2: 5 )
B) These are the overall verses that, highlight how to please God:
1)’To lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. ‘ ( 1Timothy 2 : 2 -3)
2) Obeying God pleases Him.
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offeringsand sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice”.(1Samuel15 : 22)
3) ‘ To do good and to communi cate : with such sacrifices God is well pleased.’ ( Heb.13:16,21)
‘ Being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.’ (Collossians 1: 10)
‘ Doing well, suffering for it, & taking it patiently, is acceptable with God.'(1 Peter 2 : 20 )
‘To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.'( Pro. 21: 3)
4) ‘The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.'( Lame. 3 : 25 )
5) ‘Walking humbly with God, pleases Him.( Micah 6:8)
6)’ Obeying parents is well pleasing unto the Lord.’ (Collossians 3: 20)
7) ‘God loveth cheerful giver.'(2 Corinthians 9 :7)
8) ‘The prayer of the upright is his delight.'(Prover.15: 8)
9) Having faith pleases God.
“But without faith it is impossible to please God ( Hebrew 11: 6)
10)’Being spiritually minded pleases God.'( Rom. 8: 6-8)
11) The fear of the Lord pleases God.
“The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (Psalm 147:11).
12) Studying and following Jesus Christ’s example and Serving Him in peace and righteousness.’ pleases God. (Romans 14 :17-18)
“He said, this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5).
Thanks again for your mail.
With regards,
USHA.
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By: Usha Borde on August 7, 2024
at 4:22 pm
Thank you once more. God bless
By: missionventureministries on August 14, 2024
at 12:52 pm
Hi ,
Thanks for your mail & showing deep interest in the Word of God.
You had quoted in your mail : ** You can also reply to this email to leave a comment.**
So, instead of a comment l want to show these precious verses. as per your suggestion.
These overall verses highlight how to please God:
1)’To lead a quiet & peaceable life in all godliness & honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.’ ( 1Timothy 2 : 2 -3)
2) Obeying God pleases Him.
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings & sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice”.(1Sam.15 :22
3) ‘To do good and to communicate : with such sacrifices God is well pleased.’ ( Hebrews 13:16,21)
‘ Being fruitful in every good work,& increasing in the knowledge of God.'(Collossians 1: 10)
‘ Doing well, suffering for it,& taking it patientl y is acceptable with God.'(1 Peter 2 : 20 )
‘To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.'( Pro. 21: 3)
4)’The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. ‘( Lamentation . 3 : 25 )
5) ‘Walking humbly with God, pleases Him.( Micah 6:8)
6)’ Obeying parents is well pleasing unto the Lord.’ (Collossians 3: 20)
7)’ He loveth cheerful giver.'(2 Corinthians 9 :7)
8) ‘The prayer of the upright is his delight.’
(Prover.15: 8)
9) To have faith on Him pleases God.
( Hebrew 11: 6) states, “But without faith it is impossible to please God. ‘
10)’Being spiritually minded pleases God.‘
Rom. 8: 6-8)
11) The fear of the Lord pleases God.
“The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy”. (Psalm 147:11).
12) *Studying and following JesusChrist’s example & **Serving Him in peace and righteous ness.’ **pleases God.*
*As, *
*(Rom. 14 :17-18)says, * “God said, about Jesus this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”(Matthew 17:5).
By: Usha Borde on August 14, 2024
at 8:17 pm