Verse of The Day: “If you love me, obey my commandments.” — John 14:15 (NLT)
When you think about obedience to God, do you picture it as something you try to hit when you can—like a target you aim for but sometimes miss? A lot of us have been there. We treat obedience like it's a suggestion instead of what it really is: the starting point of following Jesus.
Jesus didn’t say, “Try your best to obey Me when it's convenient.” He said, “If you love Me, obey Me.” That’s it. No fluff. No half-commitment. Love and obedience go hand in hand.
Think about any relationship that matters to you—whether it's with a friend, a parent, or even in business. Trust and respect are the foundation, right? You can’t claim to care about someone and constantly ignore what matters to them. The same is true with God. Obedience isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being surrendered.
It’s easy to pick and choose what we want to obey based on what feels comfortable. But God doesn’t just want some of us—He wants all of us. When we treat obedience as a standard, not a goal, we stop giving ourselves excuses to stay stuck and start walking in the life He’s actually called us to.
Think About It:
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Do I sometimes treat obedience like a “when I feel like it” kind of thing?
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Where in my life am I trying to negotiate with God instead of giving Him “yes”?
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What would shift in my relationship with God if obedience became my default, not my last resort?
Let’s Pray:
God, I am definitely guilty of treating obedience like a option rather than a command. But today, I want to shift that. Help me make obedience my priority instead of my fallback plan. Give me a heart that says “yes” even when it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient and when I don't understand. Thank You for being patient with me, and for loving me enough to correct and guide me despited my sinful nature. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.