Obedience to God Demonstrates Love and Trust

We’ve been talking a little bit lately about obedience to God—some of the whys, hows, warnings, and scripture resources (links to previous posts at the bottom). I think I’ve written more on obedience lately because I have a lot of that written in my journals (what I often reference when writing my posts). Since, I have a lot written in my journals, this probably means that God is really trying to get this point through my thick head!

If I’m being totally honest with you, I have to admit that I often struggle with obedience to God—at least immediate obedience. I tend to argue, push back, and fight a lot when God asks me to do something I don’t really want to do. You know…a lot like a toddler! Toddler Tracy, that’s me when it comes to obeying God! Does anyone else relate? I don’t know why I fight so much though because it ALWAYS works out better than I imagined in the end.

Unfortunately what it really boils down to is that I apparently don’t really trust God, and I’m definitely not demonstrating my love for him when I ignore him or am defiant. These were some painful convictions I recently had. I’ve learned through reading the bible and from some devotions/messages how our obedience to God proves that we love him and demonstrates our trust. Today I’d like to share some examples of those insights with you.

If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15

About 5 years ago, I read through Rick Warren’s Daily Devotional—it’s a year reading plan in the bible app (or Bible.com). It’s an excellent plan that I highly recommend. Several of the devotions throughout the plan focused on obedience to God. Below is one that stood out to me about today’s topic.

Rick Warren’s Daily Devotional, Day 320

“Today, the word obey has a negative connotation. We view obedience as a forced, unwilling decision to do something we don’t want to do because we’re afraid of punishment. But that’s not the kind of obedience that’s in God’s Word. Obedience in the Bible means this: love + trust + action.

It starts with love, as Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (NIV) Obedience comes from knowing that God loves you and you love him in return.

A lot of people think obedience is about fearing God, but God wants us to see obedience to him as a relationship of love. And out of love comes trust. If you trust what God is saying to you, and you believe that he loves you, then that will lead to action.

You need to have all three because action without love is just rote religion. And love without action is just mere talk.”^[1]

What I wrote to myself this day…Don’t fight against God. Do you love God? Then keep his commandments—obey.

I KNOW God loves me, and I really do love God. So now I just need to turn this to trust, then to action. 

Loving means obeying

“You must love the LORD your God and obey all his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands.” Deuteronomy 11:1 (NLT)

“If you love me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15

“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:21

“Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.” John 14:23-24

“Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.” 2 John 1:6 (NLT)

“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him” 1 John 2:3-5 (NIV)

God can be trusted

Sometimes we hesitate to obey because we think it’s like the game Let’s Make a Deal. We hesitate because we don’t know what’s behind the curtain. We’re afraid that God is going to trick us and give us the “booby prize” or “zonk”.

However the bible says God is a good father. He is for us, and he can be trusted.

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:9-11 (NLT)

“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Luke 11:11-13 (NLT)

“God can be trusted, and he chose you to be partners with his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:9 (CEV)

“The one who chose you can be trusted, and he will do this.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (CEV)

“But the Lord can be trusted to make you strong and protect you from harm.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (CEV)

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Hebrews 10:23 (NLT)

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32 (NIV)

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NIV)

“For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Psalm 84:11 (NLT)

“The LORD will indeed provide what is good…” Psalm 85:12a (BSB)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

“The promises of the LORD can be trusted; they are as genuine as silver refined seven times in the furnace.” Psalm 12: 6 (GNT)

If God asks us to do something or tells us to refrain from something, we can trust that he has our best interest at heart even if we don’t understand or agree.

We obey because we trust God has our best interest at heart

In my church small group this semester, one of the questions asked in our workbook said, “What have you learned about God that you wish the world could know?” I wrote, “I wish people knew God could be trusted. He has rules for a reason. They are there to protect us. He has our best interest at heart—ALWAYS.”

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

A message from Levi Lusko that I listened to earlier this year demonstrates this point perfectly with an analogy that he uses about a chainsaw.

Levi Lusko: “Swipe Right: Part 1 – Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink.”

“So sex is pleasurable. But it’s not just pleasurable. God knows sex is not just pleasurable, it’s also powerful. It’s also powerful. I mean sex is powerful, and that’s why God told us not just that we can have it, but how to use it.

All powerful things are this way. You go buy a chainsaw. Powerful, correct? And they’re going to tell you how to use it. There’s going to be all these rules, there’s going to be stickers. They’re so afraid of lawsuits, they’re going to tell you all this stuff about how to not use the chainsaw, how to use the chainsaw.

Now do you immediately assume that Home Depot hates you? Oh, they want to kill my fun. No, they don’t want you to chop your freaking arm off. You understand that the rules are for your good.

So why is the moment something God invented that He holds the patent on, because the devil loves to act like it’s his idea, like sex, drugs, and rock and roll. And God’s like, yeah, kind of invented sex. So you think it’s yours. I gave it to man to be enjoyed. You’re just twisting it and warping it because you’re a thief and a killer and a murderer, and you have been so since the beginning. So hands off the merchandise.

And so God, who invented it and gave it to us, why should we think the moment He tells us how to use it, that for some reason He wants to keep us from fun? It’s because the devil’s a liar. God wants to tell us how to use it, because sex isn’t just pleasurable, it’s also powerful.”^[2]

Pastor Levi later goes on to say that anytime God says “Don’t…”, you can finish it with “Don’t hurt yourself by…”. We can trust that God’s directives are to keep us from hurting ourselves and/or others. Obedience to God proves our trust in this area.

Take Some Practical Steps to Demonstrate Love and Trust by your Obedience to God:

• First, know that God loves you, and then love Him in return.

This then leads you to obey not out of fear but out of love. If you struggle with obedience, try first focusing on believing and receiving God’s love. Here are some helpful posts to do just that…

How to Overcome Feeling Unloved or Unwanted

Recognizing God’s Love By Building Your Relationship With Him–Part 1

Recognizing God’s Love By Building Your Relationship With Him–Part 2

What Does Your Price Tag Say?  A message on Self Worth…

• Secondly, trust God.

Know that God is trustworthy. He is for you and has good plans for you. Obedience will come from trust. If we can first love God and know that He loves us, then fully trust that He has our best interest at heart and will not harm us (Jeremiah 29:11), then obedience will be easier and come more naturally.

“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NLT)

• Lastly, for additional insight, help, and resources on obedience to God read these other posts…

Obey God—Build a Firm Foundation for Your Life

Obedience to God–Do you need a leash?

Incremental Obedience…God Leads in Steps NOT Leaps

Obeying God Should Come With A Warning Label

Scriptures Encouraging Us to Obey God

How have you noticed that obedience to God has demonstrated your love and trust for him in your own life? Share your story with us by leaving a comment below!

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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

1. Warren, Rick. “Rick Warren’s Daily Devotional, Day 320.” Bible.com, YouVersion, www.bible.com/reading-plans/135-rick-warrens-daily-devotional. ↑
2. Lusko, Levi. “Swipe Right: Part 1 – Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink.” Fresh Life Church. Fresh Life Church, 19 Feb. 2017, Montana. ↑