Following Him 

As a follower of Christ, it can be easy to say you know and understand what your role is as a Christian. However, there is a big difference between knowing about Christ and walking in obedience to Him. In order to follow Christ well, we are committed and called to be obedient to his commands. But this is easier said than done.

Maybe you are working through a broken relationship with a family member, spouse or friend. Maybe you’re facing challenges you have no control over, like losing someone you know and love, or a sickness or injury has affected you or someone you know. You may be adapting to a new job or season of life and find it’s more difficult than anticipated. Trials and circumstances like these can cloud our focus and distract us from the Lord and what His Holy Spirit is calling us to.

But that’s just it. That is the beauty of the gospel and why we need Jesus. He wants to be part of our lives! And because of that, we simply cannot do life on our own. When we are obedient to the Lord, His love and grace is put on display as we become more like Him. 

“Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him” (Deuteronomy 8:6).

Active obedience is trusting God at His word. Practically, this means that amid life’s trials, we stay obedient to what His word tells us to do, trusting that His ways are better than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). It looks like submission to the Holy Spirit’s work in our life to transform us into the image of Jesus.

When we are obedient, our obedience leads to the miracles of God and displays His faithfulness. The act of obedience is our way of showing God that we fully trust Him and that we are giving Him full control of our circumstances and life.

Obedience is a beautiful way of humbling ourselves before our Father and saying, "Lord in my obedience to you, I trust you with everything and have faith that in anything you call me to, that it is part of your purpose for my life." In this, there is truly no better life to live than one in obedience to our God. 

Lord, I thank You that You have given me the opportunity to follow You and be obedient to You. I thank You for the love and grace You have for me. I thank You that through Your son, Jesus, I get to have a relationship with You and that You have called me Your child. Father, no matter what life brings in the highs and lows, would You help me to be obedient to You in everything that I do? Would Your word be written on my heart and would You help me to hear Your voice clearly?

I pray as I choose to obey You, You will increase my faith and trust in You. In Isaiah 55, you say, "my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts," so Father give me strength to trust in Your plans and say "yes" to You, even when it is difficult. From every little thing I do, to every big decision that I make, would it be according to Your word so that You may be glorified in my life. Amen.

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him” (Psalm 128:1).

This devotion provided by Troy Francis of Compassion International , Human Resources Info Systems Analyst and Child Advocate