Have you ever asked someone to do something, only to have them completely ignore you? How did it make you feel? If you’re like most people, you probably felt disrespected, like your words had no authority or value. Whether it comes from a child, a spouse, a friend or a church member, disrespect is difficult to accept. No one likes to be disrespected—including God. Yet each time you blatantly ignore Him, His Word and His authority, it’s an expression of disrespect toward Him.

God wants you to obey Him and those He has placed in authority over you, as well. So, what causes people to be disobedient? No matter how many times I ask people not to leave service before the benediction, for example, or to refrain from chewing gum or using their cell phones during service, many still continue to do what they want to do even if it disrupts those around them. It amazes me how many times I can preach a sermon on walking in the love of God and then see the same people who have just heard the sermon go out to the parking lot and demonstrate everything except the love of God!

Whether you realize it or not, disobedience is often linked to your emotions. When people walk in disobedience, they may believe that they are exercising their personal freedom. Their attitude is, “I have my own mind. You don’t control me; I can do whatever I want to do.” Others disobey because they feel as though their way is better. King Saul had this kind of thinking when he decided to spare the sheep and the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord, even though God told him to kill everything. God quickly let him know that He desires obedience more than He desires sacrifice. Disobedience is actually a form of rebellion and witchcraft. Because of Saul’s disobedience, God rejected him as king (1 Samuel 15:22, 23).

Rules and guidelines are put into place to establish boundaries to protect you and those around you, not to make you miserable or to control you. God gave commandments so that you could have a better life and experience true joy. Jeremiah 7:23 says, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” When you take control of your emotions and decide to obey God, you put Him in a position to bless and keep you.

God gets excited when you are obedient to Him because it shows that you love Him enough to do what He says. In return, He blesses you. Get excited about obeying God’s Word and respecting His authority, and you can rest assured that He will take care of you. Your obedience will draw you into a place of worship and allow you to communicate freely with Him.

Obedience is an act of love that must come willingly from your heart. God’s greatest commandment is to love Him and to love people. Resolve in your heart to love God enough to go to church and obey His Word even when you don’t want to. Love people enough to consider them during and after worship service. And love your leaders enough to honor their words. Your blessings are determined by your obedience!
Visit our online Bible Study Center for more information on how to develop a thriving relationship with God.

— Creflo A. Dollar