Obeying God

John 14:21 (Jesus Christ): “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.”

I once heard someone say that obedience is God’s love language. Think about it: God created us, He loves us, and He knows exactly what we need to thrive. When you look at His creation, you see how intentional and meticulous He is. For example, The earth is positioned at just the right distance from the sun, close enough to receive the warmth we need, but not so close that we would burn. The more you consider creation, the more you see that God is not careless. He knows what He is doing.

So when God gives us commands, obedience is not Him being restrictive or trying to keep us from enjoying life. He is showing us the path that leads to life and true flourishing. As Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” And 1 John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” Obeying God is therefore not about earning His love. It is responding to the love He has already shown us. His way is designed for our good, even when we don’t immediately understand it. So don’t look at God’s commands as restrictions that are holding you back. There is a quote that says, try testing the word of God with disobedience and see if you are going to come out the other side thriving. So trust the One who created you. He knows the path better than you do. Sin promises freedom but ultimately destroys; Christ calls us to a better way: the way of life.

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!”

Psalm 34:8