Seeking Him: 12 Days to Spiritual RevivalSample

Day 7: Obedience

Obedience is foundational to the Christian life. No obedience, no foundation. Unless we are living in obedience to what God says, we have nothing upon which to build our lives, nothing upon which to rest for assurance, and nothing to rely on when we are tested. Jesus said this is the way to be wise! Trust Him, follow Him, obey Him, and you will be building on a Rock.

The only reliable means of measuring our love for God is to examine whether we obey Him. We may dress the part, act the part, talk the part of being a Christian, but none of these things prove that we genuinely love God. Obedience is the only way.

Read the following verses, and notice the words love(s) and keep(s):

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. . .”
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.” (John 14:21, 23–24)

Do you see the relationship between love and obedience? If you truly love God, you will seek to know and to keep His commands. If you are not keeping His commands, you cannot honestly claim to love Him. Actions speak louder than words.

Does your life give evidence that you love God?

First Samuel 15:22–23 reveals the “bottom line” of obedience from God’s perspective (consider reading all of 1 Samuel 15 for context):

And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination [witchcraft, nkjv],
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”

In summary, consider some things we can learn about obedience from these verses:

• In God’s eyes, nothing is more important than obedience.
• Disobedience reveals a rebellious heart.
• The “smallest” point of disobedience is no small matter. As with witchcraft, rebellion opens us up to the realm and influence of Satan (v. 23a).

It is also important to understand that disobedience brings consequences. In 1 Samuel 15, Saul lost his position; God took the kingdom from him. Saul had to stand by in shame and watch as someone else accomplished what God had told him to do (v. 28). Saul also lost Samuel's godly friendship and counsel.

So, what is the single greatest hindrance to revival? Could it be the lack of obedience? Each act of disobedience is a step away from God. Likewise, each act of obedience is a step back toward Him. Remember God’s plea in Malachi 3:7: “Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.”

If we were completely honest, many of us would admit that we already know one or more specific steps of obedience we need to take to return to the Lord. Perhaps there is something God has told us to do that we’ve not yet done, something we continue to do that we know is not pleasing to Him, or some limit we have placed on what we’re willing to do for Him.

Pause for a moment to pray. Ask God to show you any areas where you are not walking in complete obedience and bring you to a place of willingness and surrender.

Consider:

Have I put limits on what I am willing to do for God? Why is it so important that we obey God completely?