Rooted In Christናሙና

Rooted In Christ: The Obedient Walk

Words like obedience and accountability are often received with contempt in our culture today. However, for the follower of Christ our view of obedience should be completely the opposite of the view the world has.

As a follower of Christ, the obedient walk is really about freely following Jesus and doing what He instructs. We don’t do it in a legalistic way or if we’re somehow earning our salvation, rather, you do it because you love Him, have faith in Him, and trust Him. You trust that His will and way is better than yours. You start from a place where you know that He has only good in mind for you as you follow Him no matter what you see ahead of you. You walk by faith and not by sight. (See 2 Corinthians 5:7 & Romans 8:28)

Consider for a moment… 

• How Abraham obediently followed God as he headed to a land he’d never been to because He walked by faith and not by sight and knew God’s promises were greater than what the past held.  
• How The Disciples were obedient to drop all they were doing in order to follow Jesus without truly knowing what was ahead.  
• How Noah obediently built an ark for 100-120 years in a dessert land that didn't see rain. He was mocked by many, but he built it and proclaimed the truth anyway even though no one listened.    
• Above all these examples, Jesus is the ultimate role model of walking in obedience as He was obedient to the Father…obedient unto death. He came, lived, served, and died for you and I because of His obedience. (See Philippians 2:8 and Romans 5:20-21)

Also, consider three, (of the many) important aspects of the obedient walk… 

1. Obedience proves your love for God (See John 5:1-5). It’s not that obedience makes God love you more, but it does show that you love God. 
2. Obedience demonstrates your faithfulness to God (See 1 John 2:1-6). Do you want to show that you’re truly faithful to God? Then be faithful and obedient to Him and His Word!  
3. Obedience brings glory to God (See 1 Peter 2:12 & Romans 1:5-8). Through your service and your life that should be marked by obedient faith, you can and will bring glory to Him. 

To be able to walk in obedience you must choose to do so. 

Obedience requires faith, perseverance, and the help, strength, and power of the Holy Spirit. It requires actively reading, studying, and living out God’s Word. It also requires the godly accountability and counsel of other believers.

As D.L. Moody well said, “There will be no peace in any soul until it is willing to obey the voice of God.” and I cannot agree more!

So, do you want His peace? Do you want to be firmly rooted, established, and built up in faith? If so, I challenge you to listen and obey the voice of God all the days of your life as you will find peace amidst chaos as you live faithfully for Him. 

Let me encourage you to walk by faith and not by sight no matter what because you know that walking in obedience is vital to successfully becoming firmly rooted and established in Christ. 

Questions to get started with:  

• How is walking in obedience connected to becoming rooted, built up, and established in faith? 
• When you hear the word obedience, what does it bring to mind?  
• What are three important aspects of walking in obedience?  
• Of all the various topics you’ve studied in this devotional, what are the areas you need focus more on in order to become more rooted, built up, and established in Christ?

We hope this Plan encouraged you. Explore Other Resources from Randolph Koch / A Shepherd’s Heart.