The Truth About Obeying God’s Law Could Change Your Life
What is the truth about obeying God’s Law?
Before Jesus transformed Paul’s life on the road to Damascus, Paul was a proud law-keeping Pharisee.
He understood the thoughts and ideas of the people to whom he wrote…
You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with Him. You know what He wants; you know what is right because you have been taught His law. You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.
Romans 2:17–20
I’ve wrestled with these verses for several days, typing and deleting repeatedly, trying to grasp how these words, written almost 2000 years ago, pertain to you and me.
What is the truth about obeying God’s Law?
Some people continue to believe that appearing to keep the Commandments perfectly and following their church’s traditions consistently are essential to being defined as “good” Christians.
Others believe that going along to get along with a changing culture defines them as “loving” Christians.
So, let’s look at what Jesus said about obeying God’s Law…
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.
Matthew 5:18
“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!
Matthew 5:21–22a
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
Matthew 5:43
Knowing and obeying God’s Law was deeply important to Jesus, but He stressed that the heart of the law was what made it important.
And remember, Jesus summarized the Law, telling His followers to love God and their neighbor. The truth about God’s Law is that it all comes down to LOVE!
That’s why the Spirit inspired Paul to add…
No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
Romans 2:29
The Lord wanted the Jews and all of us to know that the Law is more than a set of rules to be kept. It is a guide to God’s will given to help us experience the blessed life He desires.
So, obeying God’s Law means living and speaking His truth in love…
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church.
Ephesians 4:15
Timothy Keller said it like this…
“Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information, but in such a way that we cannot really hear it. God’s saving love in Christ, however, is marked by both radical truthfulness about who we are and yet also radical, unconditional commitment to us. The merciful commitment strengthens us to see the truth about ourselves and repent. Then conviction and repentance moves us to cling to and rest in God’s mercy and grace.”
The truth about obeying God’s Law is that…
Obedience is our loving response to God when we trust His love and saving grace given for us. It’s not keeping a list of rules and traditions, but having a heart changed by His love that believes trusting and obeying Him is best.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to Have a Heart Full of Truth and Love
Obeying God’s Law
Father God, thank you for graciously sharing Your will with us. You created us and have always known what is best for us. You want us to live with peace, hope, joy, and kindness, and You know that Your love is the only thing that makes that possible.
It’s not a love that’s just a warm and fuzzy feeling, but love that is alive and active. It’s love that comes from you and touches the lives of everyone around us.
Please forgive my inner Pharisee. Forgive me for ever believing that I’m good because I don’t steal, murder, or commit adultery. I realize that’s a foolish lie when I read the words of Jesus. The heart of Your Commands goes to the heart of my character and attitude.
Jesus shared that coveting, hatred, and lust are sins and fail to love as You desire. He expressed that idolatry is anything or anyone I love more than You. He obeyed You perfectly and honestly shared Your truth in love.
Please help me love like Jesus. Help me listen to the Spirit’s prompting, to speak the truth when and how You want. May my love be greater than my fear, and may humility defeat my foolish pride.
I ask this all in the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, who humbly came and offered Himself, showing us how to obey God’s Law and change our lives. Amen.
A. W. Tozer wrote…
“Our Lord told His disciples that love and obedience were organically united. The final test of love is obedience.”
Obeying God’s Law is defined by LOVE that comes from God’s truth. It’s God’s love that changes everything and makes all things possible.
May you be blessed by the love that has the power to change your life.
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Dear Deb,
Thank you for this beautiful post. It convicted me on many levels, which I needed, and reinforced the great love our Father has for us and how His love will manifest through us when we obey in love.
Thank you. Have a beautiful, blessed day!
Thank you, Alexis. I so appreciate your kind encouragement. God bless you!
Thank you, Deb, for wrestling with this topic. I’ve seen both extremes and have probably slipped into both at one time or another. I’ll be pondering these truths today, asking the Lord to show me where I am currently. May I love more like Jesus!
Blessings, Cecilia
Thank you, Cecilia. The enemy of our souls will try whatever he can to get us to focus on ourselves selfishly and pridefully. What a blessing it is to know, love, and trust Jesus. May He continue to give us the desire and strength to follow wherever He leads. God bless you!
May we truly love the Lord our God and be obedient to His will all the days of our lives. Blessings, Deb, and have a wonderful weekend!
Amen, Martha! That is my greatest desire … to trust and obey the One who gave everything for me. Have a blessed weekend. HUGS!
I love this post!! I need to ponder these things too, as Cecilia said. I do know that in my heart, I want to obey God and to love like Jesus loved. It is not always an easy thing to do. As I have gotten older, the desire to OBEY HIM is so much greater. I don’t want to displease HIM. I fall short though.
In the meantime, I will continue to keep trying.
I pray you have a safe weekend, filled with love.
You’re right, Sue. It’s not always easy and we fail often, but praise God He is consistently forgiving and loving when we ask Him to help us. Following Him in faith and doing our best to love well is a daily blessing. Have a great weekend! Blessings and HUGS!
Obedient to God’s word shows how much you love God, and who so ever you love you will tell the truth. My prayer is that God will enable me to love every one as want me to. Thank you for this massages that brings to our heart, ways we are to live and be true children of God. Thanks.
I love your heart and the way you want to honor the Lord. Thank you for sharing your testimony with us. God bless you!