Definition: Submitting to the authority of someone or behave in accordance with a law.
In Tamil, the word is "கீழ்ப்படிதல்". I would like to put it this way... "கீழ் படி".. It's the lowest step that one has to have/step on in order to climb up the ladder of success and to come up in life, both temporal and spiritual.
Who/what should we obey?
1. Gen 22:18 - Obey God : His Directions, Commandments, Voice
2. Rom 10:16 - Obey the Gospel(and that is why we were even saved)
3. Eph 6:1, Col 3:20 - Obey our parents
4. Col 3:22 - Obey our earthly masters
5. Tit 3:1 - Obey magistrates, rulers, Governments
6. Heb 13:17 - Obey those who watch over us(eg. pastors, spiritual leaders)
7. Acts 6:7 - Obey the Faith(so that we don't go away or out of it)
8. Tit 2:5 - Obey our spouse
So, here we see 2 types of people/actors/situations
1. Spiritual ones
- God
- Gospel
- Faith
2. Human ones
- Parents
- Masters
- Magistrates
- Watch over us(pastors and leaders)
- Spouse
Sometimes in life we encounter situations where we may hear 2 sets of voices, 2 contradictory thought processes, 2 ways that don't merge or are not in the same track, even sometimes completely opposite to the other.
Eg: Pastors, parents, Govts., spouse etc may say something that is not quite what God has told us or written and confirmed through the Bible.
It may be a new doctrine, or some action that is not in line with God's principles. In such cases, what should we do? Who should we obey?
--> Acts 5:29 - We ought to Obey God rather than men. #ObeyTheGodWay
That is why is says in:
@ Eph 6:1 - "in the Lord"
@ 2 Thes 3:15 - "apart from this epistle"(e.g. a new doctrine)
For this devotion, let's just focus on the the Point 1 of the Actors - The Spiritual ones
So, the important question.. How should we obey and till when? :/
--> Phil 2:8 - Like how Jesus did | Even until death
What is the type of obedience that God desires of us? How should our obedience be? What all aspects are involved in obedience?
1. Rom 6:17 - Obedience from the heart
2. Rom 15:18 - In our words and actions
3. 2 Cor 10:15 - In our thoughts
4. Prov 30:17 - Our eyes
5. Prov 25:12 - Our ears
Let's logically group these.... Heart & mind(thoughts) | Eyes, ears & mouth | Actions
Nothing more left :P, these all are the vital parts of our body & God says that our obedience should involve all of this.
Doing something for the sake of doing some action without involving the heart & mind or having a heart & mind to do it but not doing any action for it, is futile.
-- Perfect obedience involves our entire being & not parts of it --
Each part must be obedient and each part must be a part of every obedience. The corollary holds true :D
Consequences of obedience
+ Job 36:11, Isa 1:19, Eph 6:3
-> Spend our days in prosperity
-> Eat the good of the land
-> That it may be well with us
Till now we've seen who to obey, when to obey and how to obey. But the question that may now loom in our mind now is, "Why should I obey?", "நான் எதுக்குங்க கீழ்படியனும்"?
For blessings or to please God or because the Bible says so?
--> 1 Pet 1:2 - Because we are called and chosen to obey(We are elected by God unto obedience)
Look at the previous verse: Where are we? In India.. In Asia..
So... this verse is very much relevant and applicable to us also :P
How does God feel when we obey?
--> Philemon 1:21
God will have confidence on us. Wow! That's something big! Isn't that great? God having confidence on us... Wow!
Contemplate this question: Are you willing to obey the voice of the Lord? Are you willing to obey His word and commandments?
If your answer is yes, "Jer 42:6" - Let this be our commitment..
'Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God'..
Let me conclude by saying a small quote.
"சாத்தான் கிட்ட இரு உம்முனு கர்த்தர் சொல்றத கேளு கம்முனு உன் வாழ்க்க இருக்கும் ஜம்முனு"
Pray and commit yourself to Obey, the God way...
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