Why is obedience in the home so important?
I used to hate the word obedience. I would cringe every time I heard it. I always pictured some sort of servant bowing down in complete submission. In my mind I thought, “No human being will ever do that to me.” Little did I know that God was requiring that very thing of me. He wanted me to submit to his complete authority and then he wanted me to teach my kids to do the same. We began by teaching them simple obedience to us, their parents. It was and still is a journey. But I truly believe by teaching them to obey us, we are preparing them for their surrender and obedience to the Lord. Having to completely surrender my own life and now teach my children to do the same made me ask one question. Why? Here are 4 reasons why obedience is important:
- Obedience proves our Love to God - Jesus said, ”if you LOVE me, you will keep my commandments.” By this we know that we love the children of God, when we LOVE God and OBEY his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. (1 John 5:2–3) LOVE means doing what GOD HAS COMMANDED US, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. (2 John 6) And we can be sure that we know him if we OBEY his commandments. If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they LOVE him. (1 John 2:3–5)
- Obedience is an act of Worship - And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to WORSHIP him. (Romans 12:1) What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is BETTER than SACRIFICE, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. (1 Samuel 15:22–23) OUCH!
- Obedience leads to Righteousness - Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to RIGHTEOUSNESS? (Romans 6:16) He who keeps instruction is in the WAY OF LIFE, But he who refuses correction goes astray. (Proverbs 10:17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in RIGHTEOUSNESS. (2 Timothy 3:16)
- Obedience comes with a Blessing - "And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be BLESSED—all because you have obeyed me." (Genesis 22:18) Jesus replied, "But even more BLESSED are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice." (Luke 11:28) But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will BLESS you for doing it. (James 1:22–25) Blessing means favor and protection!
