Imagine how God feels when we declare our love for Him but fail to obey His commands. It's like presenting Him with a beautifully wrapped package that’s empty inside—our actions don’t match our words of love. This metaphor of a beautifully wrapped package that is devoid of substance is a powerful reminder of the weight of our actions. The true gift God desires is our obedience, and the weight of this truth should not be underestimated. It's not possible for us to obey this side of heaven perfectly and completely, but our genuine effort matters to God.
Let's explore the importance of obedience, the consequences of disobedience, its connection to genuine faith, and how cultivating a lifestyle of obedience leads to spiritual maturity and deeper intimacy with God.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Delmaine Donson
Sarah’s boyfriend, Mark, handed her a beautifully wrapped box adorned with shimmering paper and a satin bow. She had eagerly anticipated this moment, dreaming of a proposal and the engagement ring that might lie inside. Excitedly, she untied the bow and carefully peeled away the wrapping paper, imagining all the beautiful possibilities. As she lifted the lid, her heart sank. The box was empty. Sarah’s eyes filled with tears as she looked up, confusion and disappointment etched on her face. The emptiness of the box felt like a betrayal of her expectations, and the beautifully wrapped exterior now seemed like a cruel illusion.
Mark quickly realized his mistake—the engagement ring, safely tucked away in a smaller box, had been accidentally left in his jacket pocket amidst the excitement of the moment. But Sarah’s moment of devastation reminded him that the presentation, no matter how beautiful, means nothing without the substance inside.
Authentic faith is rooted in loving God through obediently following His commands. Keeping His commands leads to a life filled with God’s favor and blessings. Jesus said,
“If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:15
Without genuine obedience, even the most sincere words and pious actions are hollow, much like a beautifully wrapped gift box that is empty inside. This is why genuine obedience, not just its appearance, is crucial in our faith journey.
As Oswald Chambers said, “Obedience is the key to everything. It’s not about the outward act but the inward attitude that aligns with God’s will.” This inward alignment, this deep understanding and acceptance of God's will, is what truly makes obedience powerful and transformative.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Kriangsak Koopattanakij
The story of Israel’s King Saul illustrates God’s view on disobedience. Saul was anointed by God but rejected as king because of disobedience. The prophet Samuel rebuked Saul, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).
The inner voice of pride says, “I know what is best for me,” and reckless choices suggest being wiser than parents or even God. Just as children are disciplined for not obeying house rules, God disciplines His children when His commands are broken. God and parents have the right to train children to obey, as our existence comes from them. Samuel told Saul that obedience is better than sacrifice and leads to God’s fellowship, forgiveness, and favor. Without obedience to God’s laws, our words and actions are ultimately hollow and lack the true devotion God desires and deserves.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Ben White
Fifteen-year-old Ellie was a responsible student but felt pressured to fit in with her friends. Despite her parents' explicit instructions not to attend a party because of concerns about alcohol, Ellie lied about going to a study group and sneaked out to the party.
Ellie initially enjoyed herself at the party, but things quickly went awry. Alcohol flowed freely, and a fight broke out, leading neighbors to call the police. The police arrived, broke up the party, and took all the underage attendees, including Ellie, to the station.
Ellie's parents were called to pick her up in the middle of the night, deeply disappointed and worried. Ellie faced significant consequences: a month of grounding, mandatory alcohol education, and a loss of her parents' trust. She also dealt with the embarrassment and regret of her actions.
This experience taught Ellie a crucial lesson about the consequences of disobedience. It helped her realize that her parents' rules protected her, not restricted her fun.
Believers in Christ are not sheltered from the consequences of bad decisions. God's Word is full of rich wisdom meant to keep us out of harm's way, not to create a legalistic faith. Even when we exude all of our efforts to obey God's laws, a perfectly pain-free life has not been promised to us in this fallen world. Even in and through our consequences, God is with us and working well for us, even though the mistakes are not good at all.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Chalabala
“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” - 1 John 5:3
God provided everything for the Israelites and led them out of slavery into the Promised Land, yet they rebelled despite declaring, “We will obey God” (Exodus. 19:8; Joshua 24:24). Their rebellion removed them from God’s favor, resulting in the curses of disobedience as given in Deuteronomy 28. This pattern is evident throughout Israel’s history. Leaders who observed God’s laws, such as good kings, brought God’s peace and protection, while evil kings faced military defeat, oppression, plagues, and exile.
However, when people trust God despite not understanding His ways, which are beyond human comprehension (Isaiah 55:8-9), their obedience reveals authentic faith. This principle is illustrated in Hebrews 11:17-19, where it recounts how Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice by faith, a challenge greater than many of us face today. Yet, Abraham reasoned God could even raise the dead, if needed, thus keeping His promise of having more offspring than the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5).
Abraham’s trust proved his faith to be genuine.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Ridofranz
Obedience isn’t easy because of the human inclination towards sin, from small things like being honest about a cashier who missed an item in your grocery cart to more significant matters like marital faithfulness. Ephesians reminds us that marriage reflects Jesus giving His life for His church, and spouses are to emulate Jesus by giving their lives to each other, laying down the selfishness of fights and quarrels, and taking on God’s nature with love and respect.
Facing trials to be considered “pure joy” as the testing leads to maturity and completeness in faith (James 1:2-4). Examples from Hebrews 11 showcase faith in action. Noah, despite ridicule, obeyed God and saved his family from the flood. Moses’ parents defied the king’s edict and hid him for three months. Jericho’s walls fell when the army obeyed God’s orders through Joshua. Others in Hebrews 11 endured torture, flogging, imprisonment, and death, demonstrating unwavering faith. They refused to be released to gain a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35-38).
Testing, especially when we don’t understand God’s plan, nurtures trust and cultivates deeper obedience. It strengthens spiritual resilience, leading to maturity and trust in God. As C.S. Lewis said, “Trials are precisely the way God gives us an opportunity to prove our faith and develop our character.”
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Katii Bishop
Daily Bible reading is crucial for cultivating holiness and keeping us from sin (Psalm 119:111). Regularly immersing ourselves in God’s word helps steer us away from wrong choices and shapes godly character. In marriage, rather than giving your spouse silent treatment, serving God and each other fosters peaceful unity, enduring joy, and stability.
Encountering God’s presence adjusts attitudes, changes habits, and makes us image-bearers of God. Sitting at Jesus' feet makes it easier to take every thought captive and bring it into obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). In His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11) —- the outcome of deepening faith that aligns behaviors with God’s commands.
Regularly ask yourself: Will this choice please God? Does my thinking honor His holiness? Do my words build up or tear down? Am I living my faith according to God’s commands that show others how much I love Jesus?
Integrating biblical teachings into all areas of life—not just Sundays—helps grow obedience and love for God’s commandments. Keeping God’s laws brings comfort and confidence in His care.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Tinnakorn Jorruang
Obedience to the One who gave us life is like a tree rooted in fertile soil, drawing all it needs to flourish and bear fruit. Nothing else satisfies like obeying God, bringing favor, rich rewards, loving relationships, and freedom from guilt. As William Barclay said, “The Christian must aim for complete obedience to God, where life finds its highest happiness and peace.” Disobedience has consequences, but faithfulness strengthens our faith, deepens intimacy with God, and secures confidence in His favor. Through spiritual disciplines and aligning our actions with Scripture, we can live an abundant, peaceful life that honors Him.
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” - Psalm 1:1-3
Photo Credit: