Faith That Leads to Obedience!
I want to obey God. I know that obedience to God is the path to blessings of peace, a clear sense of direction, a clean conscience, confidence and fulfillment. More could come- but those are some of the ones that God has promised to those who trust Him and take Him at His Word.
So what stands in the way? What weakens our faith? I may be fear of what people will think of the unknown, of personal sacrifice or of failure. Fear can be a powerful force to hold us back when God says, “GO”.
Choosing Faith to Overcome Fear
Two important questions we must ask ourselves regarding fear are:
- What fear is keeping me from doing what God has given me to do?
- Am I willing, by faith, to overcome that fear and obey God?
If we can be honest about what holds us back. If we can willfully choose faith to overcome fear. If we could do those two things, we are well on our way! It doesn’t take long however to realize that self-understanding and willing obedience only get us so far.
What more must we have? (Great question!)
What Believers Have to Overcome Fear
What we must have has already been made available to us…and that is everything!
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3
Everything through our knowledge. We have what we need; everything we need. But a key part is our knowledge of the One who gives it.
Knowing God so We Will Obey
When push comes to shove we will not follow through in obedience if we do not know the God who ask us to obey.
Why not?
If we don’t know Him, we will not trust Him.
Well… Maybe we will trust Him a little; when things make sense to us. But when we get outside of our own ability, our own understanding, our own strength… then we will surely hit a wall of fear and doubt. At that point, all of our self-awareness and self-determination dissolves and we do what seems right in our own eyes.
Regrettably, we do not see the blessings of obedience, because we do not obey. And, in the end, our faith is not grown.
If we were to put it into equation form, I think it might look like this:
Know HIM Who calls me + Put to death the things that bind me + Choose to obey = Obedience
Obedience= blessing!
So, if knowing the One who calls us is such an important part of faithful obedience, can I take a moment to quote something we have learned from the Experiencing God study?
In our efforts to know God, so many things can be said about who He is. These three are powerful reminders of unchangeable absolutes (they will be true wherever you are) which fulfill the very thing we need!
They speak to every fear and inadequacy. They remind us that the One Who calls us is worthy of our faith. He is worthy of us putting to death the idols our hearts tend to love more than Him; He is worthy of our obedience.
Applying Our Obedience to God, Who We Know
Think of a time when God showed Himself in your life in one of those 3 ways.
What did God do? Talk about that with someone; tell them that story!
- How has He provided for you?
- How has He lead you and used you?
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
Psalm 105:1-4
Each day this week, let’s remember the faithfulness of God toward us in the past. Let’s watch for His presence and provision each new day.
I encourage you to pursue the knowledge of God. Grow it!!
Look! Find truth in God’s Word that will speak to the areas of unbelief.
Look! Find evidence of His hand at work all around you.
Grow your knowledge of Him. Because to know Him is to love and trust Him.