Any Mom has heard those words from her children countless times. The answer, "Yes, you have to." The response, "But why?" The answer, "Because I told you to." God tells us, as the loving Father that He is, that we must be obedient. We are told to separate ourselves from the ways of this world because we as Christians are not of this world.
“Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17.
Apply the Word
It does no good to read the Bible and listen to sermons on Sunday if we don't apply that word to our lives. "Thy word is truth," says the Lord in John 17:17. And truth calls us to obedience. Is it hard? Of course. Just as hard as it is for our own children. The Bible is not just words on a page about God, but it is the living voice of God in print. The absolute source of truth. This in a world where increasingly people see truth as being completely subjective. The world says to live your truth and your truth doesn't have to be mine.
Don't Fit In
The world we live in, the people around us will think we are odd. We won't fit in. We won't get to have "fun", at least not the kind that the world sees as fun. We won't drink too much, we won't get as angry, we won't lust, we won't have sex outside of marriage, we won't commit adultery, we will honor God with our obedience. And if we do engage in any of this we will know we have done wrong and seek forgiveness. Just like our children do.
As Samuel says in I Samuel 15:22,
"Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams."
Obedience isn't Legalism
We don't obey to prove to God we are worthy of His love. We don't obey to prove to others that we are Christians. We obey because we love God. In John 14:15, Jesus states very simply, “If you love Me, keep My commandments." Obedience is expected because we love Him.
As children we often obeyed our parents simply because we loved them. We couldn't wait to see them when they came home from work. We looked up to them as our protector and defender, as the one person who would love us no matter what. They weren't perfect but our Savior's love is. Our Savior offers us unconditional, perfect love. He is our protector and defender. As Psalm 46:1 reminds us, "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." In our obedience we find blessings.
Being Obedient Brings Blessings
Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to get tired of doing good for others. Paul tells us that eventually we will reap a harvest. Sometimes doing good can be difficult. It can be hard work. We may not see the immediate results of our actions. But Paul explains that the harvest will come. The works that are done by the power of the Holy Spirit will bear fruit. The love we share, the money and time we give to others, the forgiveness we show, will plant seeds that will grow into an abundant harvest in the lives of others. In our own lives, we will harvest a crop of eternal life.
Obedience is More Than Words
God longs for obedience, not just lip service. Our obedience to the truth, in love, is what is our greatest witness as Christians. Obedience leads to hope. Obedience is not just about what we don't do but, as importantly, it is what we do. We care for the poor, we love the broken hearted, we act justly, we forgive and forgive again, we make Christ visible to the world.
Like a loving parent we don't call wrong right, but we teach what right is and we do it with tenderness and care. Christ loves us and still calls us to repentance. He calls us to turn away from wrong doing and turn towards His light. Thanks be to God who has called us out of darkness.
Do I Have to Be Obedient?
So to answer the question, do I have to? The answer is YES!
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