Obedience is Key to a Full Life

September 27, 2024

“Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I’ll wholeheartedly obey” (Psalm 119:33-34 TLB).

Obedience… wait, wait, don’t tune me out just yet. I know the word “obedience” comes with a whole lot of baggage. But obedience to God is actually KEY to living a full life. Here’s what I mean…

When we obey God, it unlocks blessings in our life. This isn’t some “super-spiritual” way to manipulate God into blessing you. This is how he designed things to work. He tells you to do something, you trust him and do it (even if you don’t have all the details) and he comes through.

He may have something incredible in store for you, but in order to get it, you have to take the step he’s asking you to take… obeying him. That’s called taking “a step of faith.”

When we ignore God, we don’t receive those blessings. We miss out. 

Sometimes, when we are waiting on God to do something in our life, he Is actually waiting on us. Are you waiting on God to change a situation? For answers? Do you want to feel closer to him? Hear his voice?

If that's you, then I suggest thinking back and asking yourself, “Did God ask me to do anything that I haven’t done yet?” If you don’t know, ask him. Go to him in prayer and ask him if there is anything he wants you to do. Then do it. Even if you don't have all the answers, choose to obey him no matter what. 

For some of us, obeying without all the answers is hard. But the truth is, God doesn’t owe you an explanation or reason for everything he asks you to do. Understanding can wait, but obedience can’t.

Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you will never understand some commands until you obey them first.

Obedience unlocks understanding.

Often we try to offer God partial obedience. We want to pick and choose the commands we obey. We make a list of the commands we like and obey those while ignoring the ones we think are unreasonable, difficult, expensive, or unpopular. I’ll attend church but I won’t tithe. I’ll read my Bible but won’t forgive the person who hurt me. Yet partial obedience is disobedience.

Wholehearted obedience is done joyfully, with enthusiasm. The Bible says, “Obey him gladly” (Psalm 100:2a TLB). 

This is the attitude of David: “Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I’ll wholeheartedly obey” (Psalm 119:33-34 TLB).

James, speaking to Christians, said, “We please God by what we do and not only by what we believe” (James 2:24 CEV).

God’s Word is clear that you can’t earn your salvation. It comes only by grace, not your effort. But as a child of God you can bring pleasure to your heavenly Father through obedience. Any act of obedience is also an act of worship.

Why is obedience so pleasing to God? Because it proves you really love him. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments” (John 14:15 GNT).