Obedience

"Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Doing exactly what the Lord commands, doing it happily. Action is the key; do it immediately. Joy you will receive! Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe."

Remember that song from when you were a kid? I sing it to Micah all the time. And you spell it out in the chorus. It's fabulous! Obedience is tied into so many things from the Bible. The other day I went to read a promise from the Bible and instead got a lesson in obedience.

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that though mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:7-9

Obedience requires courage and strength. Twice God tell us to be strong and of a good courage. He even tells us it's a command! It requires courage to obey God when it means being different from everyone else. It takes courage to obey God when people make fun of you. That's about all we face in America. But it requires courages to obey God when it means your life in many parts of the world today! It also takes strength to obey God when it goes against your flesh. Anybody can disobey. Anybody can give into their own wants and wishes. But to deny yourself takes strength.

Where do we find this strength and courage? In God's presence. Verse 9 tells us that God is always with us, no matter where He sends us.

Strength and courage (and the accompanying obedience) keep us from fear and mental/emotional despair and discouragement. We are to "be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed." Why? Because we are obeying God. Proverbs 14:26 states, "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence..." In obedience is confidence. It's no longer our own ideas or opinions we are following but God's eternal Word.

Oh, and by the way, verse 8 states that we are to
speak the truth (not depart out of thy mouth),
think the truth (meditate therein day and night),
and live the truth (observe to do according to all that is written therein).

It seems important that we know the Truth. And obey that Truth.