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.