My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27 (NKJV)

 

Jesus tells us that the distinctive mark of authentic faith is obedience to God.

We often make obedience more difficult than it needs to be. This stems from a mistrust and a lack of clarity regarding God's character and our relationship with Him. This was the dilemma the Jews faced when they came up against Jesus in the Bible, despite the fact that they had witnessed Him perform several healings and miracles. It was never a shortage of evidence, but rather a stubborn heart that shuts off God.

Obedience flows from a deep and trusting friendship with God, like a sheep hearing its shepherd's voice and faithfully following him to safe pastures and peaceful waters. When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, obeying God becomes a part of your identity as a child of God. Please, however, obey not out of fear, but out of God's love for you.

When you struggle to believe and obey God, doubt creeps in and pulls you away from the certainty of God's goodness and kindness. This is why many people have turned away from God. This is because they have a trust issue with God. They find it simpler to make excuses or reasons not to trust God than to fight their unbelief and overcome their doubts.

As you learn to trust God and follow His leading, obedience becomes easier because hearing His voice through the prompting of His Spirit becomes clearer than before. Worship, Bible study, and prayer then become our means of staying connected to God. Obedience opens the way for deeper intimacy with God and stepping out in faith is no longer frightening but joyful.

Why would it be difficult to obey God if you knew deep down that you are deeply loved and completely accepted? The truth is that you will be excited to embark on this amazing journey.