Strong Start - a Devotion on StrengthExemplo

Strength to Obey

As simple as the concept of obedience is made out to be - the truth of the matter is, it's anything but simple. Obedience is an act that takes a ton of courage and strength to carry out. To obey, in general, requires intentional effort. To obey God, however, requires both intentional effort and inconvenience.

Obedience will inconvenience you.

Obedience will present you with two choices: your will and God's will.

Obedience will test your character and your commitment to Christ.

Obedience will cost, and it will rarely be cheap.

Though obedience carries a steep price, God has a beautiful way of making it worth it. We see this proven in the story of Abraham and Issac when God asks Abraham to sacrifice Issac. This was a rather large ask considering that Issac was a long-awaited promise that Abraham had to suffer a lot to behold. Yet and still, Abraham mustered up the strength to obey God even in what appeared to be an unfortunate, unfair, inconvenient moment.

Is God requesting something from you that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense right now? That's requiring a level of faith you've never had to walk in? If so, I implore you to lean in and surrender. Yes, it is easier said than done, but once done, an open door awaits you. Abraham's open door was a ram in the bush that prevented him from having to sacrifice his son.

An open door will be on the other side of your obedience. No, we don't obey for the sake of being rewarded. We obey simply because we love God. But God rewards us because He takes delight in knowing that we trust Him enough not to deny His will.

You can rest assured that God is not in the business of wasting your allegiance to Him.

Father, thank You for always making obedience worth it in the end.