Obedience in Faith: Biblical Examples and Life Lessons
What is obedience?
Obedience in Christian context is submitting to the authority and commandments of God, living according to His principles, and aligning one’s actions and choices with His will. It means submitting to commands, orders, and instructions submissively and without grumble or disagreement. Obedience is an attitude of heart towards a higher authority. To be obedient to constituted authority means to carry out instructions given by God through our parents, leaders in the church, community, and nation at large.
“Obedience is the medicine compounded of virtues, giving life to those who drink it, and the knife, which, with one cut, cleans festering wounds. A man who, in faith and simplicity, has chosen to wield this knife, at once cutting off all passion more completely than anyone.” —Gregory of Sinai
Benefits of Obedience.
If children obey their parents, life will be much better for the family. The parents would be pleased with their children, and the children would stay out of trouble. Also, children who disobey their parents will disobey their teachers and others in authority, which can have dire consequences.
There is no greater obedience than to obey your Lord and Creator. God gives us rules and regulations in His Scriptures. If we follow God’s laws, we will find great success in this life. Deuteronomy 11:1 says, “Love the Lord your God and keep His requirements, His decrees, His laws, and His commands always.”. It is our love of God that gives us strength to obey Him. The physical benefits of obedience are blessings, safety, opportunities, and peace.
Consequences of Disobedience.
Obedience is a part of society, and without it, there will be death, degradation, and destruction, whether to authority, parents, or God. Disobedience comes with a cost. There will be conflicts, confusion, and regrets.
Conflicts: Disobedience to the law and those in authority will lead to conflicts that might cost lives, cause loss of property, and cause insecurities.
Confusion—disobeying instructions and wishes of those above us, like our parents, can lead to confusion in the family and society.
Regrets—the story of Jeremiah and the Israelites serves as a good example. When God instructed him to warn the Israelites of the consequences of their sins, they didn’t listen to God’s instructions, and this led to their slavery. They regretted their actions. It is the same way we will regret if we fail to obey God’s commandments.
As Christians and children of God, we are to obey our God, pastors, and those in authority so our days will be filled with peace and blessings.
Also Read: DCLM Daily Manna 16 August 2024 Devotional
Content Credit| Igbakuma Rita Doom
Picture Credit | https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/obedience-leads-provision-quintin-kellerman
