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Growth Requires Obedience

Leviticus 26 outlines the many blessings that await God’s people if they obey him. A basic definition of obedience, for spiritual growth purposes, is “to be God-directed, not self-directed.” Obedience means we look outside ourselves for our purpose, values and decisions. This essential stance of life admits that God knows better than we do of how to guide our steps. And it is the only way to truly live, for he is life itself (see Deuteronomy 30:20). Therefore, we cannot grow spiritually without obedience. We cannot live apart from God. He is our life.

For many people, however, obedience means “to be deprived and withheld from.” They feel obedience only means they have to adhere to rules and be restrained. In their eyes, God basically says, “Be really good, and don’t do any fun stuff,” with no real benefit, except maybe in heaven.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Obedience leads to very good things for us. As we travel down God’s paths, we reap many benefits. In fact, both survival and prosperity — major aspects of a good life — depend on obedience (see Deuteronomy 6:24). The results of obedience and disobedience are very different: “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword” (Isaiah 1:19 – 20).

How is this so? God designed life to be lived a certain way. When we follow his way, life works better than when we don’t. Sowing to the spirit will reap life for us, while disobedience will reap consequences (see Romans 8:1 – 13). Just as children do better, get hurt less and grow when they obey good parents, so do we when we obey God. He teaches us how life works, and to obey him is to be aligned with how life was designed to operate.