What Does the Bible Say About Obedience?
When my daughter was little, she used to just stare at me when I asked her to do something. I would ask her to put away a sock and she would just lock eyes with me, not budging, with a blank expression on her face. I guess she was pretending not to hear me so she wouldn’t have to obey.
It sounds funny, but it was completely infuriating. I was thinking today of how often I respond to God just like this. Here we go again, I thought! Why is parenthood so convicting? I will read my Bible or feel convicted at church or hear his still, small voice leading me to do something like open up my home, say no to something, or react empathetically to my family. Then, I will respond by distracting myself or doubting what I know I heard, justifying my disobedience.
Often times, I know how to obey God, but I just don’t do it. Other times, it’s very clear what not to do, and I still do it. Paul talks about this in Romans. He says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15). Obedience is hard, but it is so good. I have never regretted obedience to God. I have always regretted disobedience to Him.
As a kid, I was very obedient because I desperately wanted to please people. As a recovering people pleaser and perfectionist, I am learning that to “obey” or please everyone around me is often to disobey God. I am pressing in to please only my audience of one. And it is hard work!
For example, one area where I’ve been very disobedient is Sabbath rest. I have felt for many years God personally leading me to take a full day of rest and to turn off my phone. Each week, I would make excuses for why it wouldn’t work or who might “need” me to leave my phone on. Once Covid hit, it was easier for me to turn my phone off on a certain day without being worried that I would miss something for work. I can’t even tell you how much it’s transformed my life. It’s like I can really breathe for the first time. Obedience is always better. God speaks to us and nudges our hearts because His plans for us are so much better than our plans. It makes me sad to think of all I missed each time I didn’t obey.
Obedience makes us more like Jesus, it makes our paths straighter and easier to navigate, and it is our act of worship.
Here are a few of the benefits of obedience mentioned in the Bible.
Obedience Brings Us Closer to God
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. 1 John 3:24
Obedience Brings Peace to Our Situations
• But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ Jeremiah 7:23
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Obedience Blesses Our Lives and Those Around Us
• And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me. Genesis 22:18
• Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice." Luke 11:28
• Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! Psalm 112:1
• If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13:17
If you want to put these scriptures up around your home or tuck them in your purse or pocket, click here to print these Obedience Pocket Prayers.