September 30th, 2025
What do you think when you hear the word obedience? Depending on who you are, the word could trigger many different associations—positive or negative. It may bring to mind symbols of authority, like parents or law enforcement officers. It could bring to mind military service or other structures that require strict obedience. If you’re a believer, it probably brings to mind obedience to God’s Word and law. This week, I’ve been thinking about the importance of obedience, but even more than that, the why behind our obedience to God.
In the Old Testament, the word translated obedience means “to hear, listen, pay attention, heed.” It carries the idea that obedience means to both hear and act. There is not a sharp line between hearing and obeying — if you “hear” God, you “heed” with action. It seems simple—hear what God says and do it. However, the most important thing in your obedience is your heart. Why are you obeying?
Let’s look at what the scriptures say about obedience!
Exodus 19:5-6 says,
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
This calls to mind the verse in 1 Peter 2:9 which says,
“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
The first thing we have to understand is that obedience is the call to be set apart. Obedience to God aligns us with the covenant promises that separate us from the rest of the world! All the commandments of God are instructions with blessings tied to them.
Deuteronomy 11:27-28 says,
“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.”
Deuteronomy 28 outlines all those blessings and curses in detail. Verse 2 says,
“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.”
There is blessing for obedience to the Word of God! However, the blessing is a product of obedience and cannot be the motivation of your heart. This is not to say we should not expect the blessing of God, but if your primary motivation for obedience is to receive something, then your obedience will produce selfishness. If your primary motivation is to avoid the curses, then your obedience will breed fear.
1 John 4:17-18 says,
“By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
John goes on in 1 John 5:2-3 saying,
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
If obedience feels like a burden, then something is wrong. The commandments of God are not a burden, but life, because they are not just rules we obey, but the voice of a Father who loves us and cares for us. His commandments, His instruction, are for our protection and our good. If you don’t trust His heart and character completely, your attempts to obey will be only in your fleshly effort. God never changes, so even in the Old Testament, He cared about the heart behind obedience.
1 Samuel 15:22 says,
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
At the time, people were treating offerings as payment for sin, something they did because it was a cultural, religious requirement. Their sacrifices had nothing to do with their heart. An example is circumcision. Circumcision was something the people of God were commanded to do. It was a law that was to be obeyed, because it was a sign of their covenant with God. However, as with every other instruction God gave, it was not the law that sanctified them, but their obedience to God out of covenant, repentance, and love.
Deuteronomy 30:6 says,
“And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.”
Romans 2:25 says,
“For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.”
Obedience to the voice and Word of God must be the fruit of love and it is the path to freedom. Many people associate obedience with a loss of freedom, but it’s actually the only way to freedom. The truth is, you are obedient to something.
Romans 2:7-8 says,
“…to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”
If you are not seeking Him, you are obeying unrighteousness—a slave to sin and the flesh, whether you realize it or not.
Romans 6:12 says,
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.”
Romans 6:16 sums it up perfectly saying,
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
Obedience to His Word is a choice to love Him, to honor Him, to seek Him and His Word in all things. Obedience to God will produce the fruit of life when you obey as He intends:
Obedience in joy.
Obedience in love.
Obedience in truth.
Obedience in faith.
Obedience in peace.
Obedience in freedom.
Obedience without all those things will breed religion and death. The Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’ day kept the law of God, but they missed His heart completely. They were in bondage even though they had the keys to freedom and the Word Himself among them. His instructions are meant to lead us to His heart. This week, we encourage you to choose to obey His Word, understanding that every good thing comes from His hand (James 1:17). He has only good things for you. There is blessing, peace, and more freedom than you’ve ever known when you obey Him in love and keep His covenant. Keep His Word before you and it will set you free. Jesus is the Word made flesh and as we look to Him in everything, obedience will become a lifestyle leading to the abundant life He’s promised His children!
In the Old Testament, the word translated obedience means “to hear, listen, pay attention, heed.” It carries the idea that obedience means to both hear and act. There is not a sharp line between hearing and obeying — if you “hear” God, you “heed” with action. It seems simple—hear what God says and do it. However, the most important thing in your obedience is your heart. Why are you obeying?
Let’s look at what the scriptures say about obedience!
Exodus 19:5-6 says,
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
This calls to mind the verse in 1 Peter 2:9 which says,
“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
The first thing we have to understand is that obedience is the call to be set apart. Obedience to God aligns us with the covenant promises that separate us from the rest of the world! All the commandments of God are instructions with blessings tied to them.
Deuteronomy 11:27-28 says,
“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.”
Deuteronomy 28 outlines all those blessings and curses in detail. Verse 2 says,
“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.”
There is blessing for obedience to the Word of God! However, the blessing is a product of obedience and cannot be the motivation of your heart. This is not to say we should not expect the blessing of God, but if your primary motivation for obedience is to receive something, then your obedience will produce selfishness. If your primary motivation is to avoid the curses, then your obedience will breed fear.
1 John 4:17-18 says,
“By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
John goes on in 1 John 5:2-3 saying,
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
If obedience feels like a burden, then something is wrong. The commandments of God are not a burden, but life, because they are not just rules we obey, but the voice of a Father who loves us and cares for us. His commandments, His instruction, are for our protection and our good. If you don’t trust His heart and character completely, your attempts to obey will be only in your fleshly effort. God never changes, so even in the Old Testament, He cared about the heart behind obedience.
1 Samuel 15:22 says,
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
At the time, people were treating offerings as payment for sin, something they did because it was a cultural, religious requirement. Their sacrifices had nothing to do with their heart. An example is circumcision. Circumcision was something the people of God were commanded to do. It was a law that was to be obeyed, because it was a sign of their covenant with God. However, as with every other instruction God gave, it was not the law that sanctified them, but their obedience to God out of covenant, repentance, and love.
Deuteronomy 30:6 says,
“And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.”
Romans 2:25 says,
“For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.”
Obedience to the voice and Word of God must be the fruit of love and it is the path to freedom. Many people associate obedience with a loss of freedom, but it’s actually the only way to freedom. The truth is, you are obedient to something.
Romans 2:7-8 says,
“…to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”
If you are not seeking Him, you are obeying unrighteousness—a slave to sin and the flesh, whether you realize it or not.
Romans 6:12 says,
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.”
Romans 6:16 sums it up perfectly saying,
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
Obedience to His Word is a choice to love Him, to honor Him, to seek Him and His Word in all things. Obedience to God will produce the fruit of life when you obey as He intends:
Obedience in joy.
Obedience in love.
Obedience in truth.
Obedience in faith.
Obedience in peace.
Obedience in freedom.
Obedience without all those things will breed religion and death. The Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’ day kept the law of God, but they missed His heart completely. They were in bondage even though they had the keys to freedom and the Word Himself among them. His instructions are meant to lead us to His heart. This week, we encourage you to choose to obey His Word, understanding that every good thing comes from His hand (James 1:17). He has only good things for you. There is blessing, peace, and more freedom than you’ve ever known when you obey Him in love and keep His covenant. Keep His Word before you and it will set you free. Jesus is the Word made flesh and as we look to Him in everything, obedience will become a lifestyle leading to the abundant life He’s promised His children!
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