In 1992, author Gary Chapman released a book called The 5 Love Languages, which greatly influenced how people perceive and understand emotional love. I use the term “emotional” deliberately, as the only true love that reflects the nature of the one who is Love: sacrificial and unconditional, often referred to as agape.
If we were to try to comprehend some of God’s love languages to this degree, obedience, in my humble opinion, would likely top the list. Obedience, simply defined in English, means to follow an order or request from someone in a position of authority, such as a government, parent or employer. However, I’d like to focus on biblical obedience, which comes from the Hebrew word shema. This concept goes beyond mere compliance—it involves listening attentively and responding as an act of love and submission to the one giving the command.
With that in mind, I would like to propose a more biblically accurate definition that will help us better explore this topic: obedience is the act of submitting to God’s authority by responding to His word, allowing our will to be fully aligned with His through complete surrender and trust. For a believer, one of the things that will always weaken your authority and privileges as a son of God is rebellion which is opposite of obedience.
When scripture says the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), it does not mean that God is not able to control sin. It simply means that there was an established judgement against sin long before you were here to commit it and if God acted contrary to it, it would be Him denying Himself which is impossible (2 Timothy 2:13). While His prevenient grace and mercy may restore and change our stories, James 4:17 clearly tells us that if anyone knows the right thing to do and chooses not to do it, it is sin unto them.
He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 1 Samuel 13:8-10 NIV
Saul became king of Israel after the people rejected God as their king and insisted on having an earthly ruler (1 Samuel 8:4-22). In a moment of intense pressure, Saul perceived a threat to his authority and chose to disobey God by performing a ritual that was meant solely for the priests. No wonder the writer of Proverbs reflects and concludes that indeed the fear of man easily ensnares (Proverbs 29:25). In committing what was abhorrent to God, Saul not only failed to preserve what he sought to protect but also faced rejection from God Himself. Soon after this critical failure, he disobeyed again by not fully destroying the Amalekites and their possessions, as God had commanded. Instead, he kept the best of their livestock and spared King Agag (1 Samuel 15:3) claiming he intended to sacrifice to God. Many fail to realize that, although Saul remained king, the favor of the Lord had already departed from him. The remainder of his reign was marked by God’s mercy, offering him every opportunity for repentance but he never took it. In misinterpreting that period of grace, some believers struggle to discern ministers who, despite performing miracles, signs, and wonders, may lack the true presence of God backing them.
Similarly, some businesses, while generating profit, may still be stagnant in contrast to God’s original intention to prosper them because of a few compromises and bribes here and there. Marriages that are unequally yoked can present a false sense of fruitfulness and success seeing them having children and maintaining a form of stability. These types of marriages struggle with deep sorrows all coming from going against the Lord’s counsel and believing that with time their spouse will change for the better or turn to Christ. Here’s the deal, if you truly believe that God is sovereign and all knowing, that He is for you and not against you, that He puts the desires you have which are in line with his will in your heart, then surely you can believe Him to bring you a righteous spouse.
Child of God, the fallen nature of our world has already made it incapable of shielding us from evil. However, obedience to God holds immense power as a catalyst for authority and dominion. The Bible is filled with examples of great men and women of God who faced serious consequences for their actions, many of which could have been easily avoided. When Abraham attempted to help God fulfill His promise, God did not speak to him for thirteen years (Genesis 17:1). Joshua and the Israelites were making significant progress in the promised land until Achan took forbidden items and brought judgment upon the entire nation (Joshua 7). David lost his first son with Bathsheba because of his adultery and the murder of her husband (2 Samuel 12:14). There are countless examples in Scripture that clearly demonstrate the costly consequences of disobedience, and while sacrifices may hold value, they become meaningless if they are placed in opposition to obedience (1 Samuel 15:22).
I will leave you with Charles Spurgeon’s profound words to ponder:
“Faith is the fountain, the foundation, and the fosterer of obedience. Men cannot obey God until they believe him”
May it be said and known of you that you sought to obey the Lord in all your endeavors here on earth. Praise God!
If you have never given your life to Jesus Christ, and you feel that this is the perfect time, pray this prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I thank you because you died for my sins, and you were raised for my glory. Today, I receive you as my Lord and Savior. I am born again. Amen.”
