So let’s break this down. Exactly what does the word obedience mean? The word is a quality of obedient, which describes the act of carrying out commands. Obedience differs from compliance, which is behavior influenced by peers, and from conformity, which is behavior intended to match that of the majority.
So that what obedience means, OK. Now I know that I am not trying to be compliant or conforming. If anyone really knows me they know that I strive to be different, but I am trying to follow God and His Word. So if that is the case what does God’s Word have to say about obedience?
Well in Deuteronomy 17:18-19 This is what must be done: When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests. That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his God, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them.
So to begin with we must have a copy of the scroll [Bible], keep it by us all the time, we are to study it every day, not just read it, so we learn how to fear God, and then we must follow these rules and regulations that God has laid out. That is obedience to God.
Okay, so I carry a Bible with me in my briefcase, I read it, but not every day, and I try to follow the Word. I do have to be honest about the reading part in a couple ways. I only read on those days that I work and ride the train. If you remember my previous blogs about my Bible reading plan, well I am doing well. I am still on the same track of reading 3 chapters from the Old Testament and then 3 from the New Testament. I have already been through the New Testament once.
But, am I actually studying what I read? No probably not, although this week I have begun to highlight some of the verses that I read. Maybe this is the area that God is trying to get me more obedient. I don’t know. Maybe I need to readjust my reading plan by making sure it is a daily occurrence, not just those train days.
I do know one thing for sure, it is much more fun to be obedient that not. When our children are obedient we reward them. The same goes for being obedient to God. He will and does reward us for being obedient.
Philippians 2 1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
9-11Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
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