About Obedience

There are few things so definite within the Scriptures as obedience.  Obedience refers to doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done.  Naturally, obedience cannot be totally separated from discipline and the two should be considered in tandem, like two sides of the same coin.  For Christians, the object of obedience is God.  The Bible is God's revelation of Himself to mankind for the purpose of our lives being transformed into alignment with His character.  Needless to say, Jesus and the Holy Spirit play central roles throughout this process.

In all things that require obedience and discipline, the point to remember is that these two traits are only needed when there is resistance to doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done. Think about it, unless there is resistance to doing right, there is no need to be obedient to what is right.  It is the resistance to righteousness that necessitates obedience.

The resistance that demands obedience for believers is the world.  It is the fact that the world and its fleshly nature stand in utter opposition to God and the Spirit that believers are commanded to be obedient.  Obedience, in its rudiment, deals with aligning and adhering to God's holiness, i.e. His righteousness.  Realizing the object that bars and inhibits our obedience is often the first step to overcoming the world with obedience.  If a particular addiction or obstacle is hindering obedience: assess, repent, and change.

Again, the focal object of obedience is Christ and the Word.  Obedience is the actualization of these two.  Obedience is doing the Word in becoming what Jesus commands.  In a very real sense, obedience is what sets apart the narrow gate of righteousness with the wide road of destruction (Matt. 7:13; Rom. 2:13).  There are many people who will claim to be Christians yet due to a lack of obedience will not be called Christians by Christ Himself (Matt. 7:21-22).  Obedience to Christ, His commands and His Spirit, is the mark of a true Christian (John 15:10-11; 1 John 2:5-6).  It is also the determinant that sets believers apart from those who claim to be believers.

Ultimately, to hear and know the truth is not enough.  We are explicitly commanded to do the truth; it requires action much more than mere intellectual ascension (Matt. 7:24-25; James 1:25).  Additionally,  obedience is to be closely associated with discipline.  Discipline is the muscle that lifts the weight of obedience.  Without discipline obedience is all but impossible.

Remember, the key to obedience is recognizing the resistance that necessitates it, repenting of the distraction(s) that lead astray, and keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Christ, who "for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2).  Christ was obedient to the Father and disciplined in overcoming the world, even to death.  If He truly is our example, this should be our like-minded attitude and action of obedience and discipline.