I believe that God or Jesus has a right to my absolute obedience whenever I know or shall come to know his will; that to obey him is to ascend to the highest point of my being; that not to obey him would be to deny him.

Is obedience ever bad?  Slaves are forced to obey, and employees are paid to obey. What would happen to such obedience if the conditions were removed?  Is complete freedom from obedience really what we want?  The world is divided into leaders and followers, with an apathetic portion of some people in between.

All can’t be leaders, and where would we be if there was no one to follow?  It seems to me that God has designed us to enjoy (or not) human interaction.  Children and soldiers obviously need firm direction. But what about the rest of us?  And what about our obedience to God?

God gave us ten commandments; they’re listed in the Bible (Exodus 20).  It’s a very concise list that helps us to address our relationship with God, our family and our neighbors.  From this list all laws are formed.

Jesus gave us one commandment:  LOVE.  It encompasses all of the ten from the Old Testament.  He has the authority to sum them up in this one commandment because he is God’s son.  He goes on to explain who we are to love:  God and everybody;  when we are to love:  all the time; and how we are to love: with all our heart.  That’s a tall order, which brings us back to obedience.

God knows that he can force obedience, but that doesn’t complete his love.  Voluntary obedience doesn’t even get it.  Only obedience out of love will bring true peace and happiness.

Obedience to earthly masters must be weighed against God’s standards.  Obedience to God doesn’t need to be challenged because he is perfect, and his commands will be true.  They are given so that we may become perfect in love.

But be careful.  If the voice in your head directs you to act contrary to the ten commandments or out of envy, hate or pride, then God has NOT spoken.

Jesus taught that we are to follow his commandments because, in so doing, we would be following his Father, and ours.  The Holy Spirit is given that we might be reminded daily the way in which we should walk.  Through the Spirit’s work, we are chastised, when needed, as well as encouraged and comforted.

But which comes first — obedience or love?  If we can truly love, then obedience is experienced without even thinking about it.  But not many of us can truly love.  Therefore, obedience, for the sake of obedience, is the way in which we learn to love.  Obedience without reservation.  Obedience without resentment.  Obedience that rests in the trust that we have of our heavenly Father.

For him to truly be in us, we must trust and obey.  There’s no other way.

I believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, my elder brother, my lord and master.

Jesus is the reason for all seasons.  Not just for holidays like Easter, Christmas, etc.  He’s the reason for all joyful occasions, as well as times of hurt, depression or even anger.  He came to show us how to live, love and die.

He is the perfect son of God.  He is just like his Father — faultless and full of love.  While I struggle with many things in the Bible, I am more ready to accept the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the gospels.  I guess it’s because my heart tells me that they are true.  And they make sense.

I don’t think of Jesus as “another god,” as some Christians would protest to, claiming that Jesus and God are the same person.  The only reason that Jesus directed others to follow him is because he knew that, in so doing, we would be following God.  This was especially important to the Jews of his day, who had a very different image of the Almighty.

Jesus was continually focusing discussions on what his Father wanted from his children.  He taught us how to react and respond to each circumstance.  He gave us parables to show us the truth in earthly examples.  He also showed us how to give proper responses to questions, as well as to accusations.

He constantly reminded his followers that he only did and said what his Father gave him to do and say. He repeatedly established the Father-Son relationship for their (and our) benefit.  He tells me that I am God’s son.  That makes Jesus my brother — my older brother.

What a blessing it is to have a perfect older brother, since I am an only child.  What a privilege for anyone to have an older brother who doesn’t pick on you or put you down as the bratty little brother.

And yet I feel worshipful towards him, and that is at it should be.  He’s my connection to God, even though he has told me that I can talk to my Father directly.  Jesus is master of all that is good, and that makes him my master.  I feel secure with him.  I thank God for him.

It is Jesus’ hand that I look forward to taking, as he leads me to the loving arms of his Father and mine.