It Is Better to Obey God Than to Obey Man - The Crosswalk Devotional - September 28
It Is Better to Obey God Than to Obey Man
By: Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’” - Acts 5:29
Each day, we have the choice of whether we will obey God or obey man. Many of us are fearful of other humans, but in truth, we shouldn’t be afraid of them. May we all echo the words of the psalmist, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 118:6). Rather than being afraid, we can live freely in obedience to God.
Many believe this means we should be afraid of God, but this isn’t what God wants. He doesn’t want us to be afraid of Him. He wants us to respect Him, obey Him, and love Him.
Fear doesn’t last, but love always does.
If we genuinely love God, we will obey Him (John 14:15). Our hearts will be devoted to God alone, and we won’t have a desire to obey man over God’s commands. Living in obedience to Him will bring about our greatest good.
Walking in obedience to God is based on love and His work in our lives. It can take some time to walk in obedience with the Lord fully; however, as long as we are trying to walk according to Him, we are going in the right direction. We will never be perfect, so we will all still continue to sin throughout our lives; however, our lives will change when we actively choose to obey God rather than man.
Whenever we are faced with the decision of obeying God or going along with whatever a person tells us to do, we need to stand our ground. While we don’t need to be angry or hostile to others, we need to stand up for the Lord and remain faithful to Him.
If we choose to obey mankind over God, we will fall into many temptations and sins. Submitting to them and treating them as our ultimate authority will only lead us further away from God. This alone can drastically affect our relationship with the Lord. Rather than growing in our relationship with Him, we will drift away with the world.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
The Bible tells us, “Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’” (Acts 5:29). As believers, we need to follow what Peter and the apostles say here: first and foremost, we must obey God. There is no reason for us to obey humans if they are not in agreement with the Bible.
Obeying God is not a chore or something to dread. Everything He has taught us in the Bible is to help us. God isn’t a killjoy or a malevolent ruler who wants to control us. Instead, He is our loving, caring, and kind Father who wants the best for us. Submitting to Him and obeying Him will help us have more joyful lives.
Who are you obeying: God or man? How might you start obeying God rather than man? How can you keep yourself accountable for walking in obedience with God rather than the world?
Further Reading:
1 Samuel 15:22
Proverbs 3:5-6
Luke 6:46-49
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Tinnakorn Jorruang
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Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!
Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
