“Only the obedient believe.” -Dietrich Boenhoeffer
I shared that quote in a sermon over a year ago, and I haven’t been able to escape how simple yet powerful it is since that time. It’s a quick phrase that carries a lot of power for children as well as adults.
Faith in Christ is only realized when met with obedience. If I say I believe in Christ but am not willing to do the most basic forms of obedience, then am I really trusting Him with my life? And if your children say they love you but never obey you, then what you see and feel is contradictory to what they’ve said.
So, what’s love got to do with it? I encouraged the kids in chapel today to show their love by being obedient to God, which just so happens to include loving others. Love = Obedience.
1 John 5:3 – This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome
I was thinking about obedience today and how really there is freedom in obedience! God’s ways are the way of life which is exciting and fulfilling as opposed to the ways of sin which lead to death and destruction. We should get excited about obedience and not just think of it as a duty, but as God’s ultimate protection for us and strategy for abundant living! Freedom from shame and guilt and baggage! How much lighter would our souls feel with that kind of freedom! How much greater would our love be without the weight of shame and bitterness! How much more effective would our relationships be without the traps of jealousy, envy and doubt!
I definitely struggle with obedience, but I feel an exciting stirring in my soul thinking about living in such freedom!