Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Joyful Obedience
“If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15 NIV).
If you were to list ten words to describe yourself, do you think “obedient” would be one of the words? You probably hope that when others describe you that they see some evidence of the Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
“Obedient” is not a fruit of the Spirit but is the conscious use of our God-given free will. God has given us free will to either obey His commands or not. Since the beginning of time in the Garden of Eden we have failed to be obedient. The Prayer of Confession prior to Holy Communion at some churches includes, “We have failed to be an obedient church.” The prayer also includes “Free us for joyful obedience.” We need to acknowledge our failure to obey (our sin) and seek joyful obedience (a Christ-centered life).
The Bible contains 5467 promises to us. The promises of God reveal His divine purpose to which He is committed and upon which we can depend. These promises are, however, conditional upon obedience on the part of believers. With every promise, there is a premise, conditions, and requirements.
As a child, you probably obeyed your parents out of fear and obligation rather than joy. You may not have seen the benefits of obedience but only the consequences of failure to obey. The benefits of obeying God are His provision and protection.
Isaiah 5:21 warns us, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” The Prophet can see the future ruin of God’s people because they have turned away from God. Proverbs 3 is an excellent part of the Bible for understanding the benefits of a life in Christ. For example, Proverbs 3:7 reads, “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” One of the better known Proverbs is, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” This is the provision of God. The Psalmist teaches of the protection of God. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
We are freed for joyful obedience as the Holy Spirit works within us and our will is the same as His will. As we obey God, we receive His blessings of provision and protection. We most certainly will still have adversity, but we can be comforted that the battle is not ours, but God’s (2 Chronicles 2:15). What a friend we have in Jesus!
Prayer: Dear God, Forgive us dear Lord for not being an obedient church. Pardon us for our sins and transgressions against you. Renew in us a pure heart that seeks to obey and please you.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
We welcome your comments below.
Liked this post?
Read more below or search for more topics...
-
Choose Humility, Not Pride
Choose Humility, Not Pride “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6 (NLT). Pride is perhaps the most serious of the seven deadly sins from Scripture. It is the most demonic because by its very nature it is a rejection of God. Pride is a gateway sin for many men because it is the root cause of other capital sins. Pride is terrible motivator and will lead to a terrible outcome. Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” One of the most important... -
Significance of ‘Sheep and Goats’ Passage
Significance of ‘Sheep and Goats’ Passage "He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left" (Matthew 25:33 NIV). I have talked to many Christians who believe they are destined for heaven because they have been a good person, attended church, contributed money and even helped their neighbor a few times and participated in committee meetings at church. They are essentially saying that they have “earned” their way into heaven. They may admit to believing in some sort of “higher power” and call themselves “spiritual.” They may even know some Scripture regarding God’s love and the miracles performed... -
Who Knows The Truth?
Who Knows The Truth? “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV). One of my favorite Bible studies focused on the questions of God in the Old Testament and the questions of Jesus in the New Testament. I would not pretend to fully know the meaning behind the questions. However, it is apparent to me that the questions are, at least in part, designed to draw the listener into a deeper state of self-examination. I enjoy my “red...