Following God’s Commandments

Obedience is a virtue where we do right and avoid wrongful behaviors. In return for conforming to God’s word, He embraces us with love, grace, and peace. When we aim our reverence for Christ, the Holy Spirit emerges and fills our hearts with God’s undeniable presence.

This oneness with our Creator isn’t an accident because it’s a reward for adhering to His commandments.

It’s easy to disobey the Lord. At birth, we enter the world with disobedience (Romans 5:12), separated from God and in spiritual darkness. This stark reality isn’t a pleasant realization. The Old and New Testaments give validity to humanity’s fall from God’s grace (Genesis 3). Inside God’s Book are many examples of sin’s devastating consequences and the discipline God uses to call us to repentance.

The Ten Commandments

Before God delivered Christ into the world, He provided the Israelites with the Ten Commandments. Our heavenly Father gave Moses these important commandments (Exodus 20:2-17). God wrote them, and they are the essence of obedience.

Even Jesus highlighted the significance of following the Ten Commandments. For example, He showed the scribes how to keep God’s first precept.

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.

Matthew 22:37-38 NKJV

In this passage of scripture, Christ heightens a believer’s love for God as a way of placing Him first and above every false god. When we love Him, it gives glorification to His sovereignty. And because of our obedience through love, He cleanses our hearts with holiness. This act of compliance with Him places us in His kingdom.

Another commandment Jesus brought to the attention is murder (Exodus 20:13).

Christ unveiled this:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:21-22 NKJV

Jesus shows the root of murder and the source of evil intent. He points to anger as defilement. In reality, Christ highlights a life anchored in resentment towards others comes from within the heart and is equal to murder. This truth isn’t easy to accept, but necessary.

As shown above, these are two ways Christ paralleled His Gospel with God’s Ten Commandments. Many other references to these rules show up in the New Testament. They are there for our discovery.

Abiding in Christ

Abiding in Christ is the action of picking up my cross (Matthew 16:24) and following His doctrine. I’m commanded to deny myself and exert my efforts to His Deity. When I cannot give my heart and soul to Jesus, it causes unnecessary problems. In other words, when I cannot commit to His omnipotence, the tribulations of life (John 16:33) manifest into unresolved trials.

One of the most significant commandments Jesus unearthed is Him as the only way to God (John 14:6). My eternal life depends on my acceptance of this infinite promise. Our Father made Him the center of salvation (John 3:16). So, my faith, trust, and devotion have to be with Jesus.

Another crucial ingredient to obedience to Christ is treating our neighbors with love, patience, and forgiveness (Matthew 7:12). Jesus exemplified this attribute by healing the sick, resurrecting the dead, and feeding the hungry (Matthew 4:23, Mark 5:41-42, John 6:10-13).

We don’t have the power to do these miracles. Yet, Christ brings to light a way we can serve others and show others His incredible presence.

Jesus spoke these words:

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You as a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Matthew 25:37-40

Christ commands us to obey these divine principles. They show God’s will and the essence of a life centered in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. These edifications of compassion represent God’s great affection for humanity.

God used Jesus to make known the rewards for obedience and the penalty for rejecting His word.

Here’s one way Christ disclosed God’s manner of rewarding obedience:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

God is fantastic, and these three verses show us His inconceivable response to obedience. Here we see God lifting our guilt of sin and providing divine inner peace. This free and undeserving gift motivates us to draw closer to Him. This holy serenity isn’t short-lived but is everlasting.

But Jesus tells us this warning:

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 3:36 NKJV

This scripture is self-explanatory. Disbelief isn’t pleasing to God, and His discipline for pride ends in eternal damnation. Hell is real and a place where God places those who refuse to obey Him.

As noted, abiding in Christ is our only way to heaven. God placed us in Christ, and this ensures our place in heaven. Without salvation, our future ends in everlasting torture.

My Experience

Before God saved me, my disobedience to His commandments had its way with me. I lived in the bondage of sin. My unholy living kept me separated from Him and caused me to hurt those around me. Bitterness, rage, and discontentment enslaved me to the devil’s agenda. I tried alcohol and drugs to ease life’s discomfort, but disappointment and humiliation emerged.

God rescued me and gave me salvation. He reached down and snatched me out of the spiritual darkness and into the light of Christ. I find the courage and strength to live in obedience to God’s commandments through my devotion to Jesus. I’m no longer living life for myself. No, God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit transformed me into an obedient follower.

Even though I’m saved doesn’t mean I don’t disobey. Satan continues to tempt me. Most of the time, through Christ’s mighty strength, I can walk away from Lucifer’s enticement.

As much as I want to be in perfect obedience to God, I do cave to temptation and sin.

For example, the devil uses sexual desire to attract me to his domain, and when I give in, it leads me to pornography. Then I have to repent for my sin. This doesn’t happen often, but I must confess my disobedience. Another of my disobedient behavior is judging others. Again, I have to own up to it and repent for acting out in sin.

In my experience, God continues to give me long periods when I don’t sin. I do my best to place Christ first and work for God’s purpose every day. Through prayer and meditating on His word, my heart becomes united with the Holy Spirit, and my conscious awareness of God’s presence becomes an overwhelming experience. This profound realness inspires me to put more effort into my eagerness to know God better.

Conclusion

God takes notice of our obedience. Yes, when we follow His commands, He blesses us with comfort, affection, and holiness. Through our abidance in Christ, those around us witness the works of the Holy Spirit by experiencing our love. For when we obey God, His holiness radiates from our hearts.

How do you obey God?