Obedience has gotten a bad rap. From the time we are babies, we are told we must obey those who are over us. It conjures up a negative reaction, as most of the time it requires that we fight against our flesh and what we really want to do in order to obey.

One of a baby’s first words is “No!”. We go from children fearing a spanking or time out, to teenagers trying to avoid being grounded. We have to obey parents, teachers and school personnel, and eventually bosses and the law, all the while fighting it.

One reason we have a wrong perspective of obedience is because we focus more on the results of disobedience, which are discipline and punishment. We approach obedience from this negative perception. Rather than just obeying, our motivation is to avoid punishment.

But this mindset was never God’s intention for obedience. It was meant to be a protector to give us boundaries that would produce blessings in our lives. God knew what would happen to Adam and Eve if they disobeyed the only thing He asked them to obey. He knew it would result in banishment, adversity and hardship. If they had just obeyed Him, they might still be living in paradise surrounding by every blessing God had poured out upon them.

God’s ways are best. If we would make it a habit to ask Him first what we should do, we would find life is a lot easier. The Lord gave me an example of this a couple years ago after a flight. I am not much of a traveler, and didn’t even know the proper way to handle luggage.

I was quite happy to have a suitcase with wheels and a long handle to pull it along. But I was also struggling to carry another bag and purse. When I reached the shuttle van to my hotel, the driver offered to help with the luggage. I was surprised when he took the smaller bag from me and hooked the straps over the suitcase handle and the bag rested there perfectly.

The man easily rolled both bags along to the van and put them inside. I watched and thought to myself how much easier it is when you know the right way to do something. This led me to think about how God knows the best way for us to do anything. If we would ask Him, listen and obey, our lives would be so much easier. We would have much less stress and much more peace and joy.

The Lord loves us so much and desires to pour out blessings upon us. But He can only do that as we respond to Him in obedience. It greatly grieved Him in biblical times when His people continually disobeyed and turned from Him to follow other gods and indulge the flesh. There are entire chapters in the Old Testament devoted to explaining the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience.

Obedience is not something meant to whip us into shape and make us subjective to whomever is lording it over us. Obedience to God’s commands and ways are meant to bless us. Obedience opens doors for us that cannot be opened in any other way. 

Jesus tells us in Luke 11:28 that blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. The Lord rewards our obedience to Him with blessings.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.