“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; he who loves Me will be loved by the Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him,” (John14:21).

Let’s look at a few aspects of a lifestyle of obedience this morning. First, as our trust in the Father grows, we get a confidence that comes from believing that the Lord is who Scripture says He is. Our Bibles tell us that He is good as well as faithful to keep His promises. (see 2 Corinthians 1:20; Psalm 86:15). These verses call Him merciful, gracious, loving, and slow to anger. His character remains unchanged by difficult to understand circumstances. “Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever,” (Hebrews 13:8). Next, we have to develop an ever-deepening ability to “wait on the Lord.” In a society when we have instant answers at our fingertips, delays are not a part of the way we look at things. With that, we need to resist that temptation, and learn to “wait on Him,” rather than running ahead on our own. Third, we must all commit to obeying God. Why? Without this resolve, we may vacillate at decision time or allow fear to prevent us from choosing His way instead of struggling and plodding along. We must allow our obedience to be the foundation of Him guiding us.

 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm119:105).

Yesterday we began this two-part study about an obedient lifestyle with three basic concepts. First was that our trust in God must grow, remembering that He is good and keeps His promises. Next was that we develop an ever-deepening ability to wait on the Lord rather than trying to run ahead of Him. Lastly we were to make a commitment to obey God, always choosing to follow His way. Today’s verse shows us another way to develop an obedient lifestyle. The verse indicates the importance of God’s Word in our lives, and that our study of Scripture must become consistent. The Bible reveals God’s priorities, commands, and warnings, as the Word acts as a light to illuminate His chosen path for us. It acts as a light that will reveal the obstacles and dangers along life’s way. Without it, we are like someone who walks in a forest at night without a flashlight. Becoming a Christian does not mean that obedience to God is automatic. That is why the term “lifestyle” is in the title of this lesson. Obedience to God is a life-long process that includes our trust in Him and our patience in waiting on Him before acting on our own. This commitment needs to be a steadfast one. With being steadfast in our obedience, we can say no to ungodly choices, and yes to God.

Mark Seim