If you love me, you will obey what I command. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. John 14:15, 24
Are you a servant of God? If you are the you do what God directs. We obey Him. As servants to God we do not have an option to decide whether or not we will obey. When we decide to not obey, we are in rebellion. Choosing disobedience has serious consequences.
What is obedience? Obedience means joy and uninterrupted fellowship with God. People today are self-centered and want to do their own thing. They don’t stop to consider what obedience means in their lives. There are people who want God to use them. Yet, God knows that they have not obeying things that He has already asked them to do. God gave us the 10 commandments. Are we obeying them? When Jesus told us to love our neighbors (our enemies) are we doing that? Are we discipling and sharing Jesus with others?
God gave us His commands for us to obey. Its not for us to pick and choose which ones we will obey. God wants us to obey all His commands. We will do this out of our love for him. When He sees that we are being obedient in the little things, he will then trust us with big things. The Holy Spirit will guide us to God’s commands.
If we don’t obey the first time, will God give us a second chance?
Lets’ look at Jonah. Read Jonah 1:1-17. Did God ask something of Jonah? What was it? Did Jonah obey God right away? How did God respond? Read Jonah 2:9-3:10. Did god give Jonah a second chance? When God gave Jonah a second chance, how did Jonah respond? When Jonah obeyed God, what did God do through Jonah’s ministry?
Isn’t great that God does give us chances. Jonah did not obey. He had serious consequences for his choices. The second time, he obeyed and God used the message to call 120,000 people to repentance. This taught Jonah about God’s love for everyone. Great people of God were broken, sinned and disobeyed. Yet, God did not give up on them. Look at Moses, he made numerous mistakes. God was patient with him. Abraham was obedient and then disobedient. Take some time and look at some more bible people of the Bible. Did they always obey?
Disobedience is never to be taken lightly by God. What were the consequences of some of the Biblical people in the Bible? God was interested in building their character. He let them proceed till he had to discipline them. He brought them back to the right path. On the other hand, God does forgive and give second changes. We must not take this lightly. Sometimes God doesn’t give second chances. Look at Aaron’s two sons. They were disobedient in offering unholy incense to the Lord; and God struck them dead (Lev. 10).
Do you understand why we must be obedient and not take it lightly? God love each on of us. He gave us instructions and commands. They are not to limit or restrict us, but to be free to experience him.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that each of us will choose to obey you because we love you. I pray that we will spend time with you to know you, to trust you and believe in you. God thank you for your patience with us and giving us second if not numerous of chances to obey you. I pray that we will lost take any of this lightly, but seriously.
In Jesus Name
Amen
