“True obedience: obeying God because you honor Him.” (excerpt from Faith Blockers pt.2, by Dr. Chester C. Pipkin)

Imagine this scenario:

Your dad tells you that he wants you to pick your mom up from the airport.

How do you respond?  

Do you:

A. Refuse and tell him, “No can do, dad.  I’m busy.

B. Comply and pick your mom up like he said, just to avoid a conflict, all the while resenting him because you think he should’ve just done it himself. 

C. Pick her up because you’re afraid of what your dad might do if you refuse, then avoid his calls so he doesn’t ask you to do something else. 

D. Pick your mom up because you honor both of your parents and are glad for an opportunity to bless them.

After you think about your answer, switch your perspective and consider the scenario from your dad’s point of view. If you were him, would you care which response you got from your son or daughter?  Even if the task was carried out, I think most of us would prefer that last response.  Reluctant compliance isn’t what we generally want in a loving relationship.

 Similarly, God very much cares how we respond to His commands and instructions, because it is precisely that loving relationship that He desires.  And so obedience and love for God are (and must be) closely connected.

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. (1 John 2:3-5 NLT)

It’s not just about whether we obey, but maybe even more so, the attitude of our heart on the matter.  And when we love, honor and esteem the Lord, He more than reciprocates…

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." (Psalm 91:14-16 NKJV)

So let’s purpose in our hearts to show the Lord reverence through our acts of obedience!