Imagine that you are going to have a child soon and you have a set of names that you could choose from. How many of us will choose to name for our child Obedience over Love, Grace, Mercy, Joy, Shalom, Goodness, Blessing or Abundance? There must be something with the word obedience that we prefer not to bring this topic into much of the conversation. We would like to hear more of love, grace, mercy, joy, peace, goodness, blessing, and abundance over obedience. Why? For me it is because obedience requires something from us, we need to sacrifice something to obey. It requires paying certain price. Obedience involves giving up something and positions us in the place of giving while in our mind the words love, joy, etc. are about receiving from God. I realize that it is more natural for us to receive than to give.
One thing that we should acknowledge is we can receive from God because He already gave it all on the cross for us. We can experience love, joy, mercy, grace, blessing, goodness, and abundance with no limits today due to the obedience of Jesus thousand years ago. Thus we can't underestimate the importance of obedience in our life. Our faith starts with an obedience. Without obedience we would still be a slave in the kingdom of darkness rather than be the son in the Kingdom of God. How different our future would be if not because of Jesus' obedience. Rather than spending our eternity in Heaven where there is no tears and no pain we would end up in Hell where there is endless torture and gnashing of teeth. Thus if we frequently hear that we can love Him because He first loved us, we should also explore the truth that we could obey Him because of He first obeyed. This is the first truth about obedience.
1. Obedience is a response
I remember when I was a little kid my father forced me and my brother to learn guitar at home. He was smart knowing that I and my brother would have million different reasons to skip the lessons if it has been conducted in one of the training centres. That is why rather than bringing his two sons to guitar teacher he brought the teacher to our home. Nevertheless at first his tactics did not work. I and my brother tried to delay the lessons with our counter tactics. I remember although we were so sleepy we would hold our eyes open until 5-10 mins before the guitar lessons starts. Our other tactic is to never prepare for the lesson, we never do the homework and never practice at all in our effort to frustrate the teacher and halt the progress of our lesson. Having heard all these things my father was so angry and scolded me and my brother for not trying. Thus in response to fear we obey our dad and actually our lessons progressed for couple weeks before the teacher finally gave up on us and our Saturday became happy day again.
I also remember an experience with my mom when I was in elementary school. She was trying to convince me with going through circumcision procedure. Like a true salesman she was bringing up lots of reasons why circumcision was the right thing for me. She brought up health topics, religious reasons, and other whatever good things came up in her mind at that time about circumcision. I did not budge even a bit. I never want to go through this painful process because I already heard from my friends who have gone through it. No easy process. No joke. After almost giving up to convince me my mom finally came out with ground breaking idea. She said to me she will give me money if I go for circumcision. If I am not wrong I sold my circumcision virginity (circumnity) for 25 thousand rupiahs. Out of expectation for rewards I obeyed my mom. After going through the circumcision procedure I was very happy because all my pain is being compensated with 25k which I found it fair at that moment. Little that I know of after couple of months I regretted selling my circumnity to my mom. Hearing from my friends that 25k is not the right price, since some of them were paid million rupiahs to go through the procedure, I decided at that point that I would be more careful in negotiating and obeying my mom.
Almost half of my life I had been struggling with controlling my sexual desires. The battle was very intense as I was fighting to control my eyes and what I watch online. I had won some battles but I had also lost some. It was like a roller coaster ride, which I hate it so much because I kept on doing the things I didn't really want to do but I could not somehow control myself. I kept disobeying God on this area of my life until God revealed His love for me in a way that spoke powerfully to my heart. Having been clean for quite some time I got dragged back into my old habit. Things had not been well for me at that time and I looked for answer in the wrong places. One day I fell I asked for God to forgive me and He was there to embrace me. The second time I fell I did the same thing and He was still there. Third time fourth time fifth time during the same week I disobeyed God and you know what He was still there embracing me. I thought after I disappointed Him so many times I would not feel His presence anymore. On the contrary I still felt His presence in those lowest valley. When I was at my lowest he was showing me His greatest love. I cried in His presence and I was humbled by His love for me. I did not deserve this but He gave it anyway. At that moment I know my life has changed. I am empowered to obey Him out of His love for me. In response to His love I could love Him and obey Him. I never look back since.
Almost half of my life I had been struggling with controlling my sexual desires. The battle was very intense as I was fighting to control my eyes and what I watch online. I had won some battles but I had also lost some. It was like a roller coaster ride, which I hate it so much because I kept on doing the things I didn't really want to do but I could not somehow control myself. I kept disobeying God on this area of my life until God revealed His love for me in a way that spoke powerfully to my heart. Having been clean for quite some time I got dragged back into my old habit. Things had not been well for me at that time and I looked for answer in the wrong places. One day I fell I asked for God to forgive me and He was there to embrace me. The second time I fell I did the same thing and He was still there. Third time fourth time fifth time during the same week I disobeyed God and you know what He was still there embracing me. I thought after I disappointed Him so many times I would not feel His presence anymore. On the contrary I still felt His presence in those lowest valley. When I was at my lowest he was showing me His greatest love. I cried in His presence and I was humbled by His love for me. I did not deserve this but He gave it anyway. At that moment I know my life has changed. I am empowered to obey Him out of His love for me. In response to His love I could love Him and obey Him. I never look back since.
2. Obedience reflects who is our king
In our life we will obey something or someone. The question is who or what do we obey to. This choice we make is showing who has dominion in our lives: who has the power, who do we admire, who we put at highest priority, who do we cherish, who do we respect, who do we need, what we believe in our lives. We could choose to obey ourselves or money or power or kingdom of darkness or any other things in this world. We have the privilege to make the decision and we better make the right decision because every decision comes with consequences. When we decide to obey someone or something we are actually putting him or her or it over ourselves, which means they have the power to direct our lives and how we are going to use our resources, time as well as our passion and energy. If we think about it one person or thing will have different degree of importance for us. The one at the top of our priority is the one has our highest obedience, meaning we could obey other things if it does not work against the one at our top priority in life. For example I put my mom as my top priority in life and my dad is on second place. So if my dad say something I will obey him as long as I don't have to disobey my mom because my mom is the most important person in my life and I don't want to disappoint her.
Having said that our number one priority in life has the power over of our lives. It will dictate our decision making and therefore will have the final say on what we are going to be and where will we end up in the end. Who or what is the most important thing in your life today? Who is the king in your life today? I learned that making Jesus the King of my life is the only way to go. He is the one that remains the same and unshakable where other things is pretty much shakable and will change pretty often.
In our life we will obey something or someone. The question is who or what do we obey to. This choice we make is showing who has dominion in our lives: who has the power, who do we admire, who we put at highest priority, who do we cherish, who do we respect, who do we need, what we believe in our lives. We could choose to obey ourselves or money or power or kingdom of darkness or any other things in this world. We have the privilege to make the decision and we better make the right decision because every decision comes with consequences. When we decide to obey someone or something we are actually putting him or her or it over ourselves, which means they have the power to direct our lives and how we are going to use our resources, time as well as our passion and energy. If we think about it one person or thing will have different degree of importance for us. The one at the top of our priority is the one has our highest obedience, meaning we could obey other things if it does not work against the one at our top priority in life. For example I put my mom as my top priority in life and my dad is on second place. So if my dad say something I will obey him as long as I don't have to disobey my mom because my mom is the most important person in my life and I don't want to disappoint her.
Having said that our number one priority in life has the power over of our lives. It will dictate our decision making and therefore will have the final say on what we are going to be and where will we end up in the end. Who or what is the most important thing in your life today? Who is the king in your life today? I learned that making Jesus the King of my life is the only way to go. He is the one that remains the same and unshakable where other things is pretty much shakable and will change pretty often.
3. Obedience to God releases something
Every obedience to God will lead to something no matter how small that obedience is. The thing about obedience is it releases God's power, provision, annointing, destiny, calling, love, mercy, blessing, and fullness of God. It is like unlocking the door, breaking the wall, and breaking through the barriers that stand between us and God. Obedience holds the key to what He has prepared for us since the beginning of time. It brings us to a new level of intimacy and faith with Him. It carries us to the next level of our relationship with Him. We are getting closer and closer to Him with every single obedience. However the power of obedience does not stop there. It is like double edged sword. Obedience also releases God's power and His fullness to the people around us. It releases something in our lives and in the same time it is unlocking things for the people around us affected by our decision to obey. Aren't you excited that your obedience could bring healing and restoration to those who need it or bringing people closer to God or releasing someone's destiny in the Kingdom of God? The possibilities are just endless. Our obedience could lead to another person to obey God and then that person's obedience could lead to another obedience and so on. How many people could experience God even more this way? How many people could receive from God following this path? It only starts with one obedience and it could be your obedience that starts massive revival and repentance in this season.
Obedience in response to fear will not be sustainable. Obedience out of expectation of rewards disappoints. Obedience in response to His love will set us free. Choose well who is the king you want to submit yourselves to in life. Choose Jesus as obedience to Him releases something in your life and others. Obey Him one decision at a time. Your life will be changed one obedience at a time.
Every obedience to God will lead to something no matter how small that obedience is. The thing about obedience is it releases God's power, provision, annointing, destiny, calling, love, mercy, blessing, and fullness of God. It is like unlocking the door, breaking the wall, and breaking through the barriers that stand between us and God. Obedience holds the key to what He has prepared for us since the beginning of time. It brings us to a new level of intimacy and faith with Him. It carries us to the next level of our relationship with Him. We are getting closer and closer to Him with every single obedience. However the power of obedience does not stop there. It is like double edged sword. Obedience also releases God's power and His fullness to the people around us. It releases something in our lives and in the same time it is unlocking things for the people around us affected by our decision to obey. Aren't you excited that your obedience could bring healing and restoration to those who need it or bringing people closer to God or releasing someone's destiny in the Kingdom of God? The possibilities are just endless. Our obedience could lead to another person to obey God and then that person's obedience could lead to another obedience and so on. How many people could experience God even more this way? How many people could receive from God following this path? It only starts with one obedience and it could be your obedience that starts massive revival and repentance in this season.
Obedience in response to fear will not be sustainable. Obedience out of expectation of rewards disappoints. Obedience in response to His love will set us free. Choose well who is the king you want to submit yourselves to in life. Choose Jesus as obedience to Him releases something in your life and others. Obey Him one decision at a time. Your life will be changed one obedience at a time.
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