Obedience

Today's title is a word many people are not trying to hear.  That's unfortunate though because it ranks quite high on the list to receive from the Lord.  Do you reward your disobedient children?  Well then, what makes you think He will reward His?  Merriam-Webster defines obedience as "an act or instance of obeying".  The Greek word for obedience, Hupotasso, breaks this thing down in biblical terms.  It defines obedience as:to arrange under, to subordinate to subject, put in subjection to subject one's self, obey to submit to one's control to yield to one's admonition or advice to obey, be subject. Whether you want to hear it or not, this is God's definition of obedience.  This is by no means an easy task for any of us, but it is very much doable!  It requires putting yourself on the back burner with much humility. 

Because we are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26), and the Son of God (who is God Himself) obeyed every single thing His Father told Him to do, we have the same capability.  It all boils down to choice - which by the way was graciously and lovingly given to you by God.  Below are a few indisputable scriptures to back up this claim.

John 12:49 "I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.

John 8:28 "...and I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father."

1 John 4:17 "...because as He is, so are we in this world."

So, if Jesus can do it, you can do it!  The conclusion of the matter is: If you want to live the very best life you possibly can, the life God predestined for you  to live before the foundation of the world, then just do what He says!