Why Obligated Obedience Falls Flat

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.’”

DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9

 

PONDER THIS

We are called to live for Christ no matter what it costs. You cannot compromise with obedience. This is inflexible obedience—when we obey God no matter what. These apostles knew that to obey God could mean death. They were preaching with the cloud of a death sentence over their heads.

Selective obedience is not obedience at all. A man was bragging about his dog. Someone said, “What kind of a dog is he?” He responded, “Oh, he’s a very smart dog, very well trained.” She said, “Show me what he can do.” He said, “Well, when I go somewhere, all I have to say to the dog is ‘Are you coming with me or not?’ and either he does or he doesn’t.” It is silly but that’s the way some of us are. We decide what we want to do. We make the decisions for ourselves, but at the end of the day, selective obedience is not obedience at all.

Our obedience must be impassioned obedience; we must do the will of God from our hearts. Telling these men not to preach and not to share the Lord Jesus Christ was futile, because they were full of burning, blazing, emotional passion for the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have a zeal for God? God forgive our lukewarm, half-hearted, indifferent obedience. If you’re going to serve Him, serve Him with joy.

What is the most difficult part of obeying God wholeheartedly?

What is the difference between obedience that comes from the heart and obedience that comes from obligation?

PRACTICE THIS

Talk to someone who has a passion for God. Ask what whole-hearted obedience to God looks like for him or for her.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers