Mark Carey Writes:

Obedience is a crucial quality for Christian discipleship – we get lots of information, but lots of information doesn’t necessarily mean good discipleship. However, everything up to the point of obedience is just information - from the point of obedience it becomes discipleship

Eugene Peterson when taking about studying and applying the bible said, “the most important question we ask of this text is not, ‘what does this mean?’ but rather, ‘what can I obey?’”

Alan Hirsch said “if we wish to preserve the life-giving connection with God, we must learn the discipline of obedience to God in a world that will reward waywardness”

He also said “obedience is the worship that the true disciple gives to Jesus”.

Jesus commissioned His disciples to go and make disciples and teach them to obey His commands.

Obedience is important - and we need to work on it in our lives.

It is perceived as a negative thing when actually it is liberating, it can be a path we reluctantly take that leads to greater freedom and breakthrough.  

Obedience is the bread and butter, the simple basic way of living for a disciple.

There is joy in obedience!

Here are three helpful things to remember about obedience.

1) Jesus showed that success in the kingdom of God is obedience to what the Father asks. He said He can only do what the Father does. Obedience is joining in with what God is doing.

2) Andrew, when he brought a boy and his packed lunch to Jesus, showed that small acts of obedience matter. From that small amount of food more than 5000 people were fed.

The author, Gary Best said that "even our smallest act of obedience could be the raw material for a miracle".

Keep giving the small…. God can do a lot with a little.

3) Peter's conversation over a fish breakfast with Jesus showed that true obedience is made possible as we love Jesus. To reinstate Peter, Jesus got Peter to re-state his love for Him.

He'd disobeyed, betrayed and deserted Jesus but was able to return to a life of obedience, following through coming in love to Jesus again.

John Claypool when talking about the 12 apostles pointed out that especially in relation to Peter and John we see that "We will do what Jesus taught only if we love Him."

There is joy in obedience – enjoy the adventure!

The Rev Canon Mark Carey - Christ Church Bridlington Network