Obedience is the real proof of our commitment to God. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This means that love for God is not measured merely by words, worship songs, or spiritual activities, but through concrete actions that align with His will. Obedience shows that God truly is Lord over our lives.
However, obedience is not always easy. Many things in life often conflict with God’s will. The world offers shortcuts, instant solutions, and temporary comfort. The flesh pushes us toward personal pleasure. Social pressure usually leads us to compromise. Therefore, obedience requires strong commitment — the commitment to say “yes” to God even when the choice is difficult, unpopular, or uncomfortable.
In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel rebuked Saul and said, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” Saul carried out part of God’s command, but chose to ignore the rest. He gave spiritual excuses for his disobedience. But to God, complete obedience is far more critical than grand rituals. We may serve excellently, give extensive offerings, or be active in many church ministries, but if our hearts are not obedient, none of it pleases Him.
Obedience also demands the willingness to surrender our own will. Many are willing to obey as long as God’s will aligns with their desires. But faithful obedience appears when God asks us to do something we do not like or do not understand. Abraham obeyed when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, the son he deeply loved. Moses obeyed when God told him to return to Egypt, the place he had once fled. Jesus obeyed to the point of death — even death on a cross. They obeyed not because they understood everything, but because they trusted the God who called them.
Obedience is also a learning process. No one becomes perfectly obedient instantly. Peter needed a long journey to grow into a disciple of obedience. At first, he was impulsive, easily frightened, and even denied Jesus. But God did not give up on him. Obedience is built through experiences of falling and rising, through correction and restoration. God does not demand instant perfection, but He does demand a heart that is willing to be shaped.
One of the most significant challenges in obedience is consistency. It is easy to obey when things are going well, but difficult when we are under pressure. Yet it is precisely in those moments that the quality of our obedience is tested. In times of hardship, we tend to make quick decisions based on emotion rather than on the Word of God. But obedience demands that we continue to walk in God’s ways, even when the path is narrow.
Obedience also requires courage — the courage to be different from the world, to reject sin, to leave unhealthy relationships, to say “no” to temptation, and to stand on God’s side even if it costs us comfort, opportunity, or human approval.
Ultimately, the commitment to obey is the commitment to walk with God every day. The question for us today is: Am I doing God’s will or my own will? Do I obey only when it is comfortable? Am I willing to follow even when I do not understand? May the Holy Spirit enable us to remain committed to obeying the Father, just as our Lord Jesus Christ did. Amen.