Obedience Defined
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. – John 14:15
Obedience to God is foundational in the life of a believer, rooted in a deep understanding of His authority and willingness to listen to His voice. The Bible repeatedly calls us to obey, or hear, listen, and trust, God’s commands as an expression of our faith in Him. This definition reveals that obedience begins with a relationship—a relationship built on listening to God’s voice, trusting His word, and obeying His instructions. In John 10:27, Jesus says,
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
This verse draws our attention to the essence of biblical obedience: being sensitive to Jesus’ voice and following Jesus’ blueprint for becoming like Him.
Genesis 22:1-19 ESV
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Abraham’s Journey Toward Obedience
Abraham’s story in Genesis 22 exemplifies this kind of obedience. Abraham’s response to God’s command to sacrifice Isaac illustrates true obedience. While you and I likely would have side-eyed God for instructing us to sacrifice the son we prayed and waited for more than two decades (as some scholars reported), Abraham’s willingness to act without hesitation shows that obedience is not just about following orders but about surrendering our will to God and aligning ourselves with His. It is about trusting His wisdom even when we do not understand His ways. This kind of obedience requires a heart that is fully devoted to God, ready to act in faith regardless of the cost. By meditating on Abraham’s example, we learn that obedience is not just an action but a reflection of our relationship with God, marked by trust, love, and reverence for His divine will.
Develop the Characteristics of Obedience
Obedience is not merely about following rules, but about a heartfelt commitment to God’s will. Biblical obedience involves:
Obedience means putting our faith into action. Abraham’s story teaches us that true obedience stems from a place of deep surrender and unwavering trust (faith) in God’s promises, even when we do not see the full picture (yet).
Deuteronomy 11:1 ESV
You shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always.
Pray this Prayer:
Lord, help me to trust and obey your voice. Slow me down and teach me to listen to your word so that my first response is with faith and submission. Strengthen my desire and willpower to follow your teachings and live by faith, just as Abraham did. You are mighty to save. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Your Practical Action Step:
Today, take a moment to reflect on an area of your life where God is inviting you to trust and obey Him. Write down any fears, resistance, or doubts, and surrender them to God in prayer. Commit to taking one step of obedience, no matter how small, and trust that God will guide you through it.
