Obeying

And keep the charge of the Lord my God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest and whithersoever thou turnest thyself  (1Kings 2:3).

Most of us don't like to think of obeying someone, but it's crucial to obey God. He's our Heavenly Father, and we owe Him obedience. The Bible tells us to obey God over and over again. Doing so makes for a more satisfying and abundant life.

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to harken than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22b).

There are many incidents of people disobeying God in the Bible, and there are always consequences to sin. Abraham and Sarah had to face unnecessary problems because they failed to wait on God to give them their promised child. Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt when she didn't obey God. Moses didn't get to enter the promised land because he struck the rock God told him to only speak to. Sampson ended up chained and blind because he let earthly pleasures take precedent in his life. Jonah almost lost his life because he ran from God instead of obeying. Naaman almost remained a leper because he wanted Elisha to give him some great miracle instead of being obedient and washing in the Jordan River. These are just a few incidents in the Old Testament, and the list could go on and on.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves (James 1:22).

What if ...
Adam and Eve had always obeyed God? 
Mary and Joseph had not obeyed?
Noah refused to believe he should build an ark?
Moses hadn't gone back to Egypt?
The disciples had refused to follow Jesus?
Saul (Paul) had refused to change?
How much would this world be transformed if everyone obeyed God?
Will you choose to obey through love and the Holy Spirit?

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