Are You Leading in Obedience?

Obedience is a word we adults rarely use when talking about ourselves. We’ll throw it around occasionally in the context of parenting, but rarely does it reach our lips when talking about our own lives or the lives of those within our small group.

Why?

Perhaps the issue of obedience sounds legalistic? Maybe it suggests we lack grace? I’m not entirely sure why it’s nearly extinct from the Christian’s vocabulary, but I believe it’s a word we ought to reintroduce.

Recently, I was reading through a portion of Psalm 119 and was struck by the Psalmist’s emphasis on obedience.

“This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.
You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words.”
Psalm 119:56-57

“I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”
Psalm 119:60

Certainly, I was already well aware of God’s call to faithfulness. Ye the depth of the Psalmist call to obedience caused me to think again.

Whatever ministry position we find ourselves in, whether it’s vocational or volunteer, our life must be marked by obedience—to God’s Word and obedience to the Spirit’s leading.

Obedience is not an option. It’s not something I can do later. It’s not just important for others. A life marked by obedience is for me. It’s for you. It’s for the Christ follower. It’s for those who serve God’s people in any capacity of spiritual leadership.

That’s why pastor, author, martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.”

So here are a few practical questions with which we must regularly engage: Am I living my own day-to-day life in obedience to God? Am I doing what God is asking me to do in serving fellow believers? Am I listening to the Spirit’s leading as I lead my small group?

Ask yourself these tough questions. Obedience cannot be overlooked.