When Jesus instructed his first followers to go and make disciples, their core task after baptism was this: teach them to obey everything he had commanded (Matthew 28:20). Obedience was to be the defining mark of a disciple.

In his most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus ended with a striking parable about building on sand or building on rock. Building a life on a firm foundation – a life that can withstand the storms – comes from not just hearing his words, but putting them into practice (Matthew 7:24-27). And for the follower of Jesus, obedience is not a harsh demand. It flows from our love for God. Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commands” (John 14:15). To obey is to say to Jesus: ‘I love you and I trust you, Lord. I trust that your way of life, not my way, is best.’

Obedience in the Story of the Bible

From the very beginning, life with God has been about trust expressed in obedience. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve chose disobedience (Genesis 3:1-7) and that choice fractured their relationship with God and set in motion humanity’s sad history. Later, Israel was called to walk in obedience to God’s covenant, but again and again they turned away. The storyline of Scripture makes the message clear: disobedience leads to death, but obedience brings life.

In Deuteronomy, Moses urged Israel to see the link between obedience and blessing:

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. (Deuteronomy 30:19–20)

Israel’s later tragic history of division and exile shows what happens when God’s people ignore his voice. The lesson is simple: life, joy, and blessing come through walking in God’s ways.

The Example of Jesus

Jesus himself shows us what true obedience looks like. He came not to do his own will but the will of the Father (John 6:38). He obeyed the Father completely even though it meant death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8). The prayer he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of his arrest was the touchstone of his whole life: ‘not my will but yours be done’ (Matthew 26:39). And so it must be for everyone who follows him.

It was the obedience of Jesus that enabled us to be saved, to be made right with God. As the apostle Paul puts it:

“As through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Jesus] the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)

When a woman once praised his mother for giving him birth, Jesus replied: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28) For Jesus, obedience is the way to blessing.

The Obedience of Faith

True faith is not just about what we say. It is expressed and made visible in what we do. This is why Paul writes that he called people to ‘the obedience that comes from faith’ or ‘the obedience of faith’ (Romans 1:5) There is a famous chapter in the New Testament (Hebrews 11) which recalls men and women whose faith was demonstrated in action: Abraham left his home at God’s call, Moses left Egypt, Rahab welcomed the spies, and so on. James sums it up plainly: “Faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). He also warns us of the folly of hearing God’s word but not putting it into practice:

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:22).

The path of the Christian life, then, is the way of obedience. It is the outworking of our love – not an attempt to earn God’s favour, for we already have it. It is an expression of our faith, showing that we trust that God’s way is better than our own. And it is the pathway into blessing, into the peace of God, into hope and joy, and into the living experience of his presence.

For Reflection and Discussion:

1. Why do you think the Bible connects obedience with life and blessing?
2. What can we learn from Jesus’ obedience to the Father, even when it was costly?
3. Where do you find it hardest to trust and obey God in your own life right now?

Putting It Into Practice:

1. Choose one command of Jesus (for example, forgiving someone, loving an enemy, or caring for the poor) and ask God to help you put it into practice this week.
2. Read the passages from the Bible below and underline every phrase that links obedience with life and blessing, love and joy. Pray over what stands out to you.
3. Invite accountability by sharing with a trusted friend or mentor an area where you want to obey God more fully, and ask them to pray for you.

More from the Bible:

Read and think about these two passages, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament:

• Deuteronomy 30:11–20 sets before us the choice between life and death, blessing and curses. It calls us to choose life by loving God, listening to him, and walking in his ways.
• John 15:9–17 is where Jesus is talking to his followers just before his arrest, and note how he connects love, obedience, and joy. Note what his main command is.

Remember This:

One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Recommended Resources

Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction – a reflective and pastoral meditation on discipleship as a lifelong journey of obedience.

Elisabeth Elliot, Discipline: The Glad Surrender – a practical and devotional call to obedience in everyday life.