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What does it mean to be obedient? Everyone seems to have their own ideas about what obedience is. Let’s pause and find out what the Bible says:
In Mark we read a conversation between the teachers of the laws and Jesus:
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important? The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12:28-31
Is it safe to say that to be obedient means to love God first, above all else, and love others? This truth is universal, not just for mother’s. But since I’m writing a series for mother’s, I want to really focus in on loving God so that we may love our husband and children better.
Love is the foundation of everything. There is nothing without it (1 Cor. 13:2). We can’t love others unless we first love God {and let Him love on us}.
The Bible clearly states if we love God, we will obey what He commands (John 14:15). Let’s clarify what this means.
Jesus isn’t making a threat or an accusation in this statement. It’s not like when people are dating and they say, “If you don’t do what I say, you don’t really love me”, and manipulate people with it. That’s not what the verse means.
The verse is saying that out of your love for Christ, obedience will naturally follow. It’s something you can’t help, simply because the desires of your heart bend and lean more toward the will of Christ, rather than your own.
None of us will be perfect at it, but we always want to be in a place where we want to love on God more. It’s simple, but not always easy, because our flesh always wants to drown out what the Spirit would have for us. It can be quite a battle.
When we seek to love God, we will obey Him. So what of us who struggle to obey? Does that mean we don’t love God?
Not necessarily. The key word here is struggle. If you’re pressing and pushing for that prize, it’s going to be a struggle. But if you’re not even trying, there will be no reason for resistance. Struggle will not exist because you will not be fighting through flesh or powers of principalities to get to the point of obedience.
God calls us to teach and train our children about Him and His truths. When we love our children, we can’t help but want to teach them the Truth, right? We also need to recognize that love is not defined by emotion, but by action. We shouldn’t wait to feel a certain way before we act. We should never allow emotions that much control. They have their place, to be sure, but they need to be kept in it.
Mothers, do not fail to be obedient to God’s calling for you as mother. It’s the most important mission field you have.
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That last sentence really pushes at my heart. A beautiful and necessary reminder. Thanks Christin!
I love the thought that “out of your love for Christ, obedience will naturally follow”. I struggle greatly with the desire to strive for perfection. I keep trying to do it right. But the truth is, I will do it right, if I strive to love God…more. If I am seeking His face, I don’t need to worry about getting it right. That will happen naturally. Great word.
“If you’re pressing and pushing for that prize, it’s going to be a struggle. But if you’re not even trying, there will be no reason for resistance.”
Yes!! Thank you! Sometimes the enemy whispers to me that I don’t love God b/c I’m not obeying *perfectly*, and I just start thinking that way, without examining the truth of it.
“ We shouldn’t wait to feel a certain way before we act. We should never allow emotions that much control.” AGREED – even in regards to apologizing. I teach my kids to say “I was wrong…” (once they’ve actually recognized it) “…will you please forgive me?” Sometimes, even I do something that I know was wrong, but at that particular moment, I’m still upset enough that I don’t feel sorry for what I did. I can still acknowledge that there’s something “wrong” in my relationship with God and the other person, and *that* is the reason I’m apologizing.
I love following your blog and hearing what God is speaking to you!!