Every day we have multiple opportunities where we can choose to obey or to disobey God.  It could be as simple as returning money to the cashier who gave us too much change or as difficult as forgiving, again, the person who hurt us. When faced with such opportunities do we choose obedience or disobedience? What is it that drives our decisions?

Obedience comes from a heart compelled by love.  Obedience takes positive action to show honor and respect to God.  Obedience requires us to set aside our own feelings, pride and desires in order to do what we know is right.  Most importantly, obedience draws us closer to God.

The epitome of obedience was demonstrated on a hill with a cross and three nails.  Christ was obedient to the point of death in order to honor His Father in heaven and to display His love for each one of us.

If we do not do what we know to be right, even in part, we are walking in disobedience.  If we keep the extra change the cashier gives us or only return a portion of it, we are being disobedient.  If we say we forgive that person who hurt us, but our heart remains bitter toward them, we are choosing disobedience.

What if Christ chose to disobey God’s will for his life?  What if Christ said, “I’m not really wanting to do this thing you are asking of me, God.  How about you let them pay for their sins themselves?”.  Imagine what humanity would be like without the gift of an obedient Savior.    That reality would truly be hell on earth.

But praise be to God that Christ loved us enough to be obedient to the Father.  Praise God that Jesus chose, above all of His human desires, to draw close to His Heavenly Father and to obediently submit to God’s will.  Praise God for the salvation that is now ours to freely receive because of the obedience of Jesus Christ.

What is it that God is asking of you today?  In what way is He calling you to be obedient? Submit to His will. Draw close to Him through your act of obedience and He WILL draw near to you.

Ps 128:1 “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him”.

2 Jn 1:6 “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love”.

Ph 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!”.

WITHDRAW weekly devotional

Author Kami R. Lobner

“Writing has always been a gift to me from God.  There is no better avenue for me to communicate the true depths of my inner most thoughts and feelings. I was encouraged by my family and friends to write…anything…but to just write.  So, I prayed about what to write and felt a calling to write daily devotionals.  God has used my gift to put on paper what His Scripture means to me; my hope is that what I write hits a chord with those who choose to read the devotionals.  I often include a short prayer in the devotionals I write.  These prayers are meant to encourage and perhaps challenge us to pursue God’s Presence through scripture reading, meditating on God’s Word, bible studies and fellowship with other believers. 

God has been good to me and to my family.  I sincerely hope something God led me to put on paper provokes a thought in you or perhaps is that “little thing” you were needing to hear.  None of these writings are from me, but from God and His gentle guidance to put thought and prayer on paper. 

May God truly bless you!”