Don’t just behave , Obey!

One of our younger daughters has been asking for her very own Nintendo. My husband promised her that if she behaved well by the time we took our next trip, he would get her one. She has been on her best behavior and trying very hard to impress us. While my husband was away, I assigned her some chores to complete. After finishing them, she explained to me that "behaving" and "obeying" are two entirely different things. She reminded me that he told her to behave but never mentioned anything about obeying.

Her comment got me thinking.

I suddenly realized that behaving and obeying are indeed different concepts. Behaving means acting in a morally good way, which implies that she is under no obligation to follow my orders. She can do what she pleases as long as she behaves and acts decently. On the other hand, obedience means that she has no control over deciding what she needs to do; I make that decision for her. She is required to continually seek my direction. I dictate her actions, which means I control and determine what is good for her.

It is much easier to behave than it is to obey.

Jesus asks, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone" (Mark 10:18). In this statement, Jesus demonstrates a life of obedience. He does not define goodness based on his own understanding, nor does he act solely according to his own will. Instead, he seeks out God's commands and obeys what God defines as good for him.

Somehow, we've been conditioned to believe that simply adhering to biblical standards makes us good and qualifies us for God's kingdom. Many people assume they are all set if they can just behave.

However, it is not merely those who behave but those who genuinely obey that please God. A life of obedience means that I don’t dictate what to do and what is good; rather, I consistently seek out God's commands for me and follow them diligently.

…So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:6)

“ Our Lord wants to give us continuous instruction out of his word; continuous instruction turns hearers into disciples.” -Oswald Chambers