True worship, true worship is rooted and heartfelt. Obedience to God’s voice, rather than mere external rich rituals or sacrifice. That’s why God’s Word says obedience is better than sacrifice—not just going through the motions. That’s something that I call temple worshiping: going through the motions of worshiping, but at the same time ignoring God’s command.

Now, let’s take a look at the definition of obedience. I want to define that because a matter of this word comes from that. Obedience is defined as dutiful or submissive compliance to the commands of one in authority.

So as we use that definition, we can begin to see some elements of biblical obedience. Looking at the word dutiful. Dutiful means it is our obligation to obey God, just like Jesus fulfilled His duty to the Father by dying on the cross for our sin.

Take a look at the word submissive. Submissive indicates that we yield our will to God’s will.

Looking at the word command. Commands speak of scriptures in which God has clearly spoken His instructions.

And this last portion of that—the one in authority. Who is that one in authority? That one in authority is God Himself, whose authority is sovereign and unequal.

Therefore, for the Christian, for us as the called of God, as the children of God, obedience means complying with everything that God has commanded.

You see, saints, when we as God’s children obey our heavenly Father, guess what? He is glorified. Jesus told us that the plan is for others to see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. You find that in Matthew 5:16. But of course, performing good deeds requires obedience to the One who calls us to do good deeds.

The Bible often tells us that God blesses and He rewards obedience. How do I know that? His Word says, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him,” Psalms 128:1.

And also in James 1:22–25 it says, “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it, not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” They will be free. That’s why I call this freedom through obedience.

Obedience to God proves our love to Him. Look at 1 John 5:2–3. It demonstrates our faithfulness to Him, 1 John 2:3–6. It glorifies Him in the world, 1 Peter 2:12. And it opens up avenues of blessing for us, John 13:17.

Since when we obey Him—when we obey the Lord—we can live a life of joy. Don’t you want to have joy? We can also live a life without shame. We can live that life because we have become rooted deeply in the Lord, and also we are confident in our eternal hope. Because why? Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. There’s that word—freedom again. 2 Corinthians 3:17.

Our obedience is actually about assurance that we truly know God, 1 John 2:3.

See, God is a loving Father. And if we haven’t been following His commandments, if we’ve been living in and for the world, we can be transformed. We can be transformed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

We can ask God for forgiveness, and guess what? He will grant it, and He will choose to forget the sin, just as if we had never committed it in the first place. Because it is written, “I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:16–17.

Saints, as we can see, obedience is an essential part of the Christian faith. The main ingredient of the Christian faith is obedience. Jesus Himself gave us that example when He was obedient unto death—even death on a cross. And for us, as believers, the act of taking up our cross and following Christ, Matthew 16:24, means obedience.

The Bible says that we show our love for Jesus by obeying Him in all things—not some things, maybe perhaps somethings—but in all things. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15.

As Jesus stated, a Christian who is not obeying His commands can rightly be asked, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Only Jesus, as we know, is perfect. But as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from within, we grow in holiness. This is the process of sanctification.

And we, as children of God, saints of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, all we have to do is trust the process. Trust the process—that is described as spiritual growth. The more we read God’s Word, the more we spend time with Jesus, and the more we allow the Holy Spirit to change us from within, the more we grow in obedience and in holiness as Christians.

Psalms 119:1–8 states:

“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart. They do no wrong but follow His ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying Your decrees. Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all of Your commands. I will praise You with an upright heart as I learn Your righteous laws. I will obey Your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.”

Therefore, since we have these promises, and these are all promises from God—and if He makes a promise, He keeps His promise—we can purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. That’s 2 Corinthians 7:1.

Obedience is a lifelong process that we pursue by making it a daily goal. Therefore, every morning that God gives you to open your eyes and wake up, we should begin thanking God for the process.

Obedience is an act of surrender. That’s when we, as Christians, say, “Lord, not my will, but Thy will be done.” When we can get into that frame of mind, into that spirit, we align our actions with God’s will.

Obedience is not easy, saints. Many times it means taking the more difficult road and doing things that are against our fleshly desires. Although it can be difficult at times, obedience sets us apart as authentic children of God. God will know us by our obedience. Even those around us will be inspired by our obedience.

Obedience demonstrates our faith and trust in God. Obedience is the sure and promised way of opening up blessings for our lives. o fully obey, there are some things we must continue to do. Number one, we must read His Word every day. Number two, we must ask God to empower us with His Holy Spirit so that our lives honor Him in everything we think, everything we say, and everything we do.

Remember that obedience to God’s commands will make us the light and the salt in a dark and tasteless world, Matthew 5:13–16.

Father God, Lord Jesus, we truly thank You, Lord, for this Word. We thank You, Lord, that the menu that You have set before us, Lord Jesus, is one that we can easily digest and allow it to become part of our being as we mature and grow in Your grace and in Your mercy.

Help us, Father God, not just to be hearers of the Word, but to commit ourselves to be doers of that Word. Your Word is life. Your Word, Father God, is the medicine that we need in order to remain steadfast, unmovable, always abounding.

Help us, Father God, throughout this day and whatever we put our hands to do. Bless our going out and our coming in. Not to be concerned about the things of the world, Lord, but to trust You as our Shepherd.

And as You continue to lead us, God, we will be obedient. Forgive us for our sins, Father, when we are disobedient.