Obedience
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7 NKJV).
Obedience
“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14 NKJV).
Obeying God means doing what He says, how He says it, and when He says it. Partial obedience is still disobedience; God calls us to submit completely, not pick and choose what we want to obey. When we ignore God, by doing what seems good in our own eyes, there will be consequences for our disobedience.
From the very beginning, in the garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve disobeyed and rebelled against God, there were consequences for violating God’s commands and that has not changed. Often, the consequences of our disobedience can effect many lives, just as Adam and Eve’s sin and disobedience effected all of humanity.
· “For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6 NKJV).
· “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV).
· “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will not do?” (Numbers 23:19 NKJV)
Jesus says: the gate is narrow and difficult is the way to life, there are few who find it. There are few who fully submit and obey God. Instead, people more often give in and follow their human desires and do what they feel is right in their own eyes. They ignore and dismiss the guidance and counsel of the Holy Spirit.
Walking the narrow road with God can be difficult, but there is no sin worth the consequences that you will pay.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7 NKJV).
Every act of disobedience against God will be addressed by God. Rebelling against God’s commands is rebelling against God Himself. Believers in Christ Jesus are to obey God as our ultimate authority. Some consequences of disobedience may not come immediately, but you can be sure God saw it and He will deal with it.
“For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2 NKJV).
STOP! Turn Around!
If you find yourself in a place of disobedience to God, reverse course and get back to the right path: Confess to God, admit to Him what you have done, ask for forgiveness, and repent (turn away from your sin of disobedience), turn around, and head back to the narrow gate that leads to life!
The Holy Spirit will empower you to obey and do what is pleasing to God. When you feel the Holy Spirit convicting you of wrongdoing and making sinful choices, do not ignore Him. He is guiding you and helping you to make the right choices that will keep you from going down the wrong path. Each time you ignore His counsel, His voice will become quieter and harder to hear, making the next sinful choice easier for you to justify.
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in rebellion…” (Hebrews 3:7-8 NKJV).
Our love for God is shown through our obedience to Him.
Jesus repeatedly says:
· “If you love me, you will keep my commands” (John 14:15)
· “The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him” (John 14:21).
· “Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me” (John 14:23-24).
Our obedience to God should be done out of reverence to Him, recognizing who God is; our loving Creator and Savior of our souls. Showing our love for Him, through our obedience, pleases and delights Him, and brings Him joy.
God already knows we are not going to obey perfectly every time, but He is looking for a willing heart that desires to obey Him and to be sensitive to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He will give grace to the humble heart, but He resists the proud.
If you are living in rebellion and disobedience, stop. Turn around (repent), change your direction, confess, and ask for forgiveness. God will forgive you. You may still have to experience the consequences of your disobedience, but keep going down the right path, the narrow path, press on and persevere.
God loves You. He will empower you through the Holy Spirit to obey, you need to be willing to listen.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I want to honor you and show you that I love you through my obedience to you. Forgive me for my disobedience and pride. I repent for doing what seems right in my own ways. Make me sensitive to Your will and what you want me to do. Guide me by The Holy Spirit in the way I should go, and when I am tempted to do things in my own way, give me strength to deny myself and turn from sin and disobedience to you. Thank you, Lord, for your lovingkindness and for forgiving me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Until next time… May the Lord bless you today and always.
Shalom
Whoa!! Some great teaching to my heart today!! Thank You for the reminder that the more I resist the Holy Spirit’s Voice 🕊️ I am hardening my heart to Him until I will no longer hear Him! Thank you MIKI for sharing these wise words with us!!