As Christians, Being Obedient To God is of great importance. But what does it mean to be obedient to God? Simply put, obedience to God means following His commands, living according to His will, and walking in His ways. This includes obeying the teachings of the Bible, seeking His guidance in prayer, and living a life that honors Him.
Obedience to God plays a crucial role in the Christian faith. It is an essential part of our spiritual growth and development as believers. When we are obedient to God, we align ourselves with His purpose and plan for our lives. We are able to experience the fullness of His love and grace, and we can have peace and joy that surpasses all understanding. On the other hand, when we are disobedient, we distance ourselves from God and miss out on the blessings He has for us.
Obedience to God is not just about following rules and regulations. It is about living a life of surrender and submission to Him, recognizing that He knows what is best for us and trusting in His goodness and faithfulness.
In the following sections, we will explore this topic further and discuss the importance of obedience to God for Christians.
I. Understanding Obedience to God
At the heart of Christianity lies the concept of obedience to God. Obedience can be defined as the act of complying with the commands or wishes of someone in authority. In the Christian context, it refers to the act of following God’s commands as revealed in the Bible.
So why does God desire obedience from His followers? The answer lies in the fact that God is the ultimate authority, and as such, He has the right to demand obedience from His creation. Moreover, obedience is an expression of our love for God. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.”
Throughout the Bible, we see numerous examples of individuals who demonstrated obedience to God. Noah obeyed God’s command to build an ark and save his family and the animals from the flood. Abraham obediently left his homeland and followed God’s call to go to a new land. Moses obeyed God’s command to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. These examples show that obedience to God is not always easy, but it is essential for fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives.
The significance of obedience to God lies in the fact that it enables us to live a life that is pleasing to Him. It helps us to align our will with God’s will, to trust in His plans for our lives, and to experience His blessings and provision. Moreover, obedience to God is a sign of our faith in Him. As James 2:17 says, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
II. Obstacles to Obedience
As Christians, we are called to obey God, but sometimes we face obstacles that hinder us from doing so. These obstacles can come in various forms, such as doubts, fears, temptations, and distractions. Identifying and overcoming these obstacles is essential if we are to live a life of obedience to God.
One of the most common obstacles to obedience is doubt. We may doubt God’s promises, His goodness, or His faithfulness. When we doubt God, we are less likely to obey Him because we don’t trust Him. Overcoming doubt requires us to renew our minds with the truth of God’s Word and to remind ourselves of His faithfulness in the past.
Another obstacle to obedience is fear. We may fear what others will think of us, fear the unknown, or fear the consequences of obedience. However, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Overcoming fear requires us to trust in God’s protection and provision and to step out in faith, even when we don’t know what the outcome will be.
Temptation is another obstacle to obedience. We may be tempted to sin, to take shortcuts, or to compromise our values in order to achieve our goals. Overcoming temptation requires us to resist the devil and to flee from temptation (James 4:7). We can do this by staying close to God, renewing our minds with His Word, and seeking accountability and support from other believers.
Finally, distractions can hinder us from obeying God. We may be distracted by the cares of this world, by our own desires, or by the demands of others. Overcoming distractions requires us to prioritize our relationship with God and to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). We can do this by setting aside time for prayer and Bible study, by cultivating a spirit of gratitude and contentment, and by learning to say “no” to things that are not in line with God’s will for our lives.
III. Practical Steps for Obedience
As Christians, we are called to be obedient to God in all aspects of our lives. This can seem like a daunting task, but there are practical steps we can take to develop obedience and grow in our relationship with God.
One of the most important steps we can take is to prioritize prayer, Bible study, and attending church. Prayer is a way for us to communicate with God and seek His guidance and direction. The Bible is God’s Word, and it provides us with the knowledge and wisdom we need to live a life that is pleasing to Him. Attending church allows us to fellowship with other believers, receive teaching and encouragement, and worship God together.
To implement these steps in our everyday lives, we can set aside time each day for prayer and Bible study. This may mean waking up earlier or going to bed later, but it is worth it to invest in our relationship with God. We can also make attending church a priority by setting aside Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings for worship and fellowship.
Another practical step we can take is to seek accountability and support from other believers. This can be done through joining a small group or Bible study, finding a mentor or accountability partner, or simply reaching out to friends who share our faith. Having others to pray with, study with, and encourage us can make all the difference in our journey towards obedience to God.
Finally, we can focus on developing habits that are pleasing to God. This may mean practicing generosity, kindness, and forgiveness, or it may mean avoiding behaviors and attitudes that are contrary to God’s Word. By intentionally cultivating these habits, we can become more obedient to God and more like Christ in our daily lives.
IV. Benefits of Obedience
Many of us have asked ourselves the question: What are the benefits of being obedient to God.
I remember when I was a little boy.
Back in the day, my bible teachers at church used to talk to me about the importance and the benefits of being obedient to God and parents.
At the time, nothing they said was interesting to me.
But as we go through life, we learn on our own what others previously wanted to teach us.
I write these lines sitting on a boat, next to a beautiful beach with turquoise blue waters, in a natural reserve in the Aegean Sea.
Sitting, I watch the fishes battle for a piece of bread, while the captain of the ship takes pleasure in catching them.
How unlucky the fishes I observe seem to be, because no one warns them that the captain’s bread is not food, but a deadly trap.
Nowadays, I can see how God in his infinite love, like a caring father, wants the best for us.
He shows us the way, so that we live life the best way.
Obedience to God makes perfect sense, because he loves us.
It is not about arbitrary demands; it is about wise advice, full of love to keep us from danger.
So that we can be happy with him.
Today, I aim to share with you 8 incredible benefits of obedience to God based on a bible story.
The story of Daniel’s friends in Babylon, when they had to choose between idolatry or to die being faithful to God.
A Bible Study On Obedience
In order to answer the question: What are the benefits of being obedient to God, I will share with you a shot bible study on obedience from the book of Daniel.
In our previous post, we shared part of today’s story.
King Nebuchadnezzar, in his pride, had a giant statue of gold set up.
Then he demanded that all the inhabitants of the Babylonian empire worship that statue.
After the first worship ceremony, a group of envious officials exposes Daniel’s friends, since they did not worship the statue.
The reason for their refusal was none other than obedience to God’s commandments.
To the commandment not to worship images, or to have other gods.
Let’s see what the bible records as the response of these young men, when they were questioned by the king regarding their refusal, and right after being threatened with the fiery furnace.
From this, we will learn important benefits of obedience to God in the bible:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered Nebuchadnezzar:
“We don’t have to defend ourselves before his Majesty!”
If we are thrown into the burning furnace, the God we serve can deliver us from the furnace and from the hands of his Majesty.
But even if our God does not do so, know that we will not honor his gods or worship his statue.
| Daniel 3: 16-18
The young men decided to obey God rather than be intimidated by the king, even if it meant paying for it with their lives.
The king had them thrown into a fiery furnace heated seven times more than normal, expectant at God’s reaction for them.
The Bible retells us that the king immediately observed four people walking through the flames.
If you remember correctly, they had thrown only three.
At that moment, he understood that the fourth person was sent from heaven, to save the lives of these young men.
Let’s read from the bible what ends up happening in our story.
Having said this, Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the burning furnace and shouted:
—Sadrac, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, get out of there, and come here!
When the three young men came out of the furnace, the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers gathered around them and saw that the fire had done them no harm, and that not a single one of their hair had been scorched; What’s more, his clothes weren’t burned, and he didn’t even smell like smoke!
Then Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed:
Praise the God of these young people, that he sent his angel and saved them!
They trusted him and, defying the royal order, chose death rather than honor or worship another god other than their own.
Therefore, I decree that anyone who speaks against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be dismembered, and that his house be burned to ashes, no matter what nation he belongs to or what language he speaks.
There is no other god who can save in this way!”
After that the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to a high post in the province of Babylon.
| Daniel 3: 26-30
God worked a wonderful miracle in the lives of these young people, from which we can reflect on the benefits of obedience to God.
#1 Superior moral conduct
The first of the Benefits Of Being Obedient To God that I would like to mention out of this bible story is that:
Obeying God makes us better citizens. We act out of a genuine desire to please God, not just for the collective good.
In the case of Daniel’s friends, the only thing that the people who envied them could find to discredit them was a matter of their religion.
There was nothing that could be found against them, since the time they had risen to power as administrators of the province of Babylon.
In obedience to God’s will, his conduct was blameless.
#2 Peace and trust in God amid trials
The second of the Benefits Of Being Obedient To God that I want to share is that:
Knowing that we are obeying God fills us with peace and confidence. We know God is with us, and we can entrust our lives to him.
We all have felt that things can get out of hand at some point when we are not being obedient to God’s counsel.
In the case of Daniel’s friends, faced with the terrible threat of being burned alive, they could have the confidence that God would protect them because they were being obedient to him.
And that if God did not save them, they could trust that after their death, their lives were secure for eternity in the hands of God.
#3 Courage to face life
The third of the Benefits Of Being Obedient To God is that:
Knowing that we are right with God gives us the courage to face challenges. We find no reason to doubt that He will work on our behalf.
Daniel’s friends had the courage to face death as a product of their confidence that in God’s eyes they were doing the right thing.
#4 A precise north to guide our future
The fourth of the Benefits Of Being Obedient To God is that:
Obedience to God’s will as revealed in his word is a clear foundation on which to build our lives with the bricks of our decisions.
Daniel’s friends did not have to hesitate about what decision to make regarding their future.
They didn’t have to live life adrift without knowing what decisions to make about dilemmas like the one they were facing.
God had been clear, they knew that what they needed to do was obey him.
#5 Divine Protection
The fifth of the Benefits Of Being Obedient To God is that:
When we obey God, we can trust that we are in the right place doing the right thing. There is no place safer than God’s will.
Without a doubt, it was God who protected the lives of these brave young men as a response to their faith and their obedience.
#6 Witnessing to others
The sixth of the Benefits Of Being Obedient To God is that:
When we obey God, we do the right thing. People watch us. The eternal consequences of our positive influence will only be revealed in heaven.
As they were brought out of the fiery furnace unharmed, the people who witnessed this event were able to understand that these young men were innocent.
They understood they served the empire and the true God with integrity.
Their faith and obedience were testimony to the truth for the lost.
#7 We glorify God
The seventh of the Benefits Of Being Obedient To God is that:
When we obey God, He uses us to glorify His name among those who do not know him as we do.
The result of all this controversy was that God’s name was glorified among the lost.
That God dignified himself before the king and before all the Babylonian empire.
If there was any doubt that the God of Daniel and his friends was the true God, these doubts were completely eradicated.
#8 We are promoted to spheres of greater influence
The eighth of the Benefits Of Being Obedient To God is that:
When we choose to obey God, we are inviting him to entrust us with greater responsibilities, greater influence.
The bible says that he who is faithful in a little will be faithful in much.
These young people chose to be faithful to God in their sphere of influence, since they did not surrender to the trial, they received greater responsibility.
They were promoted in their positions of government, not only by the king, but by God, so that they could continue to give a more powerful witness to the entire empire.
Conclusion
Under any circumstance, full and loving obedience to God’s commandments is better than any temporary benefit that we could get otherwise.
When we choose to obey God, we can count on his favor and his protection.
We live the best life possible, and with our testimony, we draw those who do not know God to him.
God, in His love, has shown us the path on which life is best for us.
It is our privilege to put our trust in Him and to obey with confidence. Knowing that He is a faithful God.
If you would like to learn more about the Benefits Of Being Obedient To God, I advice you to read the book: The Insanity of Obedience: Walking with Jesus in Tough Places by Nik Ripken.
Also, to complete your study on obedience you might find it also useful to have a look at our article on the fear of God.
And you? What do you think about the Benefits Of Being Obedient To God? What is your experience? Share in the comments.
A hug, God bless you.
