Lent: A Journey Through 7 Spiritual DisciplinesSample

Week Seven: Obedience to God

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice when He obeyed God’s plan to die on the cross for our sins. In smaller ways, we also make sacrifices in our Christian walk that draw us closer to God. Obedience is a commitment to God: a choice to sacrifice our desires so that we can fully obey Him and fulfill His purpose for our lives—and for the world.

Obedience goes hand in hand with sacrifice, which often carries a negative connotation. Sacrifice takes away important things in our life for the sake of a larger purpose, and it’s difficult. It requires strength, perseverance, and faith to stand against our desires and decide to make a sacrifice so we can grow closer to God.

Yet, obedience isn’t just about sacrifice. It’s also an invitation ... an invitation to discover just how much God loves us ... an invitation to seize opportunities that He can only give when we obey Him.

What beautiful, life-giving opportunities could God be extending to you in this season? The result of obedience might be something surprising, something you never expected that gives you a glimpse of the amazing future God has planned for you.

He sees your future from an eternal perspective—He has infinite plans, while we only have finite plans. His vision reaches beyond the goals we set and the plans we have, yet He also takes those into account. God wants to “give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

God desires your obedience so He can work through you to accomplish His will. Whatever you sacrificed this Lent season, know God is using this season to show you how much He cares for you.

As you reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross this week, meditate on His perfect sacrifice and obedience to God: the difficulties of perfect obedience, but also the blessings and the joy that happened as a result.

1. What do you believe God is showing you in this season of Lent? Which themes did you struggle with? Which do you want to explore further?
2. Describe how sacrifice can be both beautiful and difficult at the same time. How do those two things work together?
3. How do you think sacrifice is connected to obedience? How do you see that in Jesus’ journey to the cross? How about in your life?