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Promises: God Honors Obedience

Promises: God Honors Obedience

• December 2, 2024 •
a person shaping a clay

“Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9, CSB)

Honor is the key to this promise. There are many reasons why a command is obeyed. It could be a learned response to avoid punishment. We see that kind of obedience all around us. It is there at military basic training, the football team practices, and the insidious result of woke cancel culture. Obey or else! 

Obedience can also come from appeasement, manipulation, and a giving-to-get attitude. If I follow the rules, then I will be rewarded. And obedience can become a learned response, a habit with no discernible motive. 

While Christ-followers may be motivated to obey due to fear, want, or habit, that is not what God desires. “Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22, CSB) Wait, weren’t the burnt offerings and sacrifices obedient to God’s Law? Yes. So what does God really want? There is a deeper obedience that is not born of punishment, appeasement, or habit but born of honor. 

Our obedience to the commands of God should come from a desire to honor God. This is the obedience the Father desires. “If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26, CSB) As we honor God with obedience, He honors us. 

God honors us with abiding fellowship, peace, blessing, and love. We don’t obey out of fear or want but because we love God and want to honor Him. We must always check our motivations to see if our obedience is God-centered or self-centered. Honor is the key to this promise. 

Other verses for this promise  (Compiled by David Wilkerson)

  • Philippians 4:9
  • Psalm 106:3
  • 1 Samual 15:22
  • Exodus 19:5
  • John 15:10
  • Matthew 7:24
  • John 14:23
  • Matthew 5:19
  • John 12:26
  • Matthew 7:21
  • 1 John 2:17
  • John 13:17
  • John 7:17
  • 1 John 3:22
  • 1 Kings 2:3
  • Psalm 25:10
  • Isaiah 1:19
  • Jeremiah 7:23
  • Proverbs 8:32
  • Malachi 3:7
  • Job 36:11
  • Psalm 119:2
  • Proverbs 19:16
  • James 1:25
  • Hebrews 5:9
  • Revelation 22:14   
Dale Heinold
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