“So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.” 1 Peter 1:14
One of my delights is my little dog, Tory. Tory is my faithful writing partner. She has to be near me when I am on the computer. Right at this moment, she’s sitting on the couch to my right. My husband’s responsible for training her. She’s really great at tricks and for the most part, she is obedient. She listens to us as long as there is no kitty or rabbits when she sees the kitty or a rabbit she has trouble listening.
Beloved, number twenty-one characteristic is one is obedient. Obedient’s definition is complying or willing to comply with orders or requests; submissive to another’s will. Synonyms for obedient are compliant, acquiescent, tractable, and amenable. Beloved, we’ve many stories in the Bible of obedience. Abraham when he gave Lot the choice of land, he was obedient to separate his family. Of course, we already studied when he was willing to sacrifice Issac. Then Moses’ obedience to face Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Joshua was obedient in leading the Children of Israel into the promised land. Beloved, there’s one that stands out in my mind that is obedient, his name is Daniel.
We find Daniel in Daniel 1 in captivity. He was a teenager forced from his home, his ways, and his God. But God was on his side. They were to be trained for three years and then they would enter the King’s service. Daniel and his friends resolved to stay true to their God. So Daniel proposed to the King’s official that they eat only vegetables, and to drink only water, no wine for them. Daniel said to the King’s official to let them eat this way for ten days and if they did not look healthy, they would comply. But God gave Daniel favor in everything he did due to obedience.
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned yourc food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. Daniel 1: 8-14
At the end of the ten days, the young men and Daniel appeared healthier than the other young men so Daniel and his friends practiced obedience in the site of this trial of being in captivity.
Beloved number twenty-one characteristic of a born-again believer is one that is obedient.
Tory’s faithful and obedient to voice commands especially if treats are involved. She’s so sweet when we make her “wait” to eat her food. She’s a West Highland Terrier so patience, not a strong virtue of a dog, but she will wait until she hears “Okay” to eat her food. When it comes to a cat or rabbit, better hang onto the leash. What is God asking you to wait for or not use because it defiles your body?
Father God, thank you that as believer’s we are obedient. Help each one of us obey you and follow you daily. I pray for the woman who struggles with food, may she follow Daniel’s example and submit to your will for her to be healthy. Lord, I come to you and give you my stubborn will and ask your will be done in my life. We ask all of this in your son’s name, Amen.
What do you need to do to add obedience to your life? Is God asking you to become healthier? Perhaps it is not food and it is overspending, or the words that come out of your mouth are critical. Are you willing to submit to God just as Daniel did?
This post is part of a 31 day series on the Characteristics of a Believer. I am so glad that you are here. To read all of the posts in this series, click here.
