Day 7: A Life of Obedience
Scripture
John 14:33 – Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
Prayer Prompt
“Lord, You have called me to obey Your commands as a response to Your love. I acknowledge that true obedience flows from a heart that loves You deeply, not from duty or obligation. Help me to love You with all my heart, so that my obedience becomes a natural outpouring of that love. Show me the areas of my life where I may be holding back or resisting Your call, and give me the grace to surrender fully to Your will. Empower me to walk in obedience, trusting that in doing so, I honor You and grow closer to Your heart.”
Reflection
In John 14:15, Jesus makes it clear that obedience is a direct reflection of our love for Him. It’s not about following rules out of obligation, but about aligning our lives with His will because we genuinely love Him. Obedience flows from relationship, not from fear or duty. When we love Jesus, our desire becomes to honor Him through our actions, words, and choices. True obedience is an outpouring of that love, and it leads to deeper intimacy with Him!
Take a moment today to reflect on your obedience to God. Are there areas of your life where you may be hesitant to obey, even though you know it aligns with His will? Ask God to give you a heart of love and trust that will make obedience a natural response to His voice and His commands.
Application
Many Christians tend to equate spiritual growth with Biblical knowledge, believing that simply knowing more of the Bible will naturally draw us closer to God. However, from heaven’s perspective, it is far more important that we demonstrate our love for Him through obedience. The following exercise is designed to help you read the Bible with the goal of living out what you learn about following Jesus.
Start by selecting a passage from the life, ministry, or teachings of Jesus—no more than a dozen verses to begin with. For example: The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8).
Read the passage twice, then retell it in your own words.
Next, reflect on the following questions:
What does this passage reveal about Jesus (or the Father)?
What does it teach us about people (like us)?
What command or pattern of obedience can we draw from this passage?
How can you apply this command or pattern in your life this week?
Finally, pray:
Ask God for His help to live out what you've discovered.
Commit to following through with His help, trusting that He will enable you.