How much do you love our Lord and Savior? Does your life show it? Today, we will focus on the result of having steadfast obedience for Jesus out of our tenaciously abiding love for Him. Have you ever put abiding and obedience together to be filled with joy? I sure haven’t.
Let’s look at the following verses: John 4:31-34, Philippians 2:5-11, and Hebrews 12:2. What can we learn from these verses about the connection between obedience and joy from the life of Jesus? In a nutshell, Jesus obeyed God the Father out of pure love for God. The result was having joy. God is up to something big and beautiful in this broken world. Obedience lets us be a part of His plan. Being a part of what God is up to results in a joy that is deeper than emotions.
Let’s read Luke 5:1-11. What were the actions of obedience to Jesus required in this passage? What were the obstacles to obedience Simon might have experienced?
What did you find about obedience in these verses? Was there a transition (heart and lifestyle) that changed from these small acts of obedience?
From the following passages, what requirements of obedience? What was the promised outcome in each?
Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 11:28, John 16:24, James 1: 22-25, James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:2-4, 1 Peter 5:5-6
We are promised to have joy; however, the obedience to the commands of Jesus won’t eliminate all the sadness, pain, and trials in our lives. Joy can be hard to come by in a world filled with heartache, worries, and woes. When we are true abiders in Jesus, joy might be hidden in plain sight of our resolution to obey Jesus.
Every day we have a choice to obey or to disobey. Will you hesitate or take a trusting leap of faith into full obedience to Jesus?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your joy that you give us even in the hard times. I pray that we will choose to have full obedience in you.
In Jesus Name
Amen
