Disobedience Is Costly

Memory verse: “Jesus replied, ‘if anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him’ “(John 14:23)

God doesn’t take disobedience lightly. You read that Jonah’s disobedience almost cost him his life. Moses’ murder of the Egyptian consigned him to 40 years in the wilder­ ness. David’s sin with Bathsheba cost the life of his son. Paul’s early ministry was greatly hindered because of his earlier murderous lifestyle: many people distrusted him because of his reputation as a persecutor of Christians.  

Because God is interested in developing your character, at times He lets you proceed in your wrong direction, but He will never let you go far without disciplining you to bring you back to Him. In your relationship with God, He may let you make a wrong decision. Then the Spirit of God leads you to recognize it is not God’s will, and He guides you back to the right path. He clarifies what He wants. He even takes the circumstance of your disobedience and works them together for good (see Rom. 8:28) as He corrects you and teaches you His ways.

Sometimes God does not give a second chance. Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, were disobedient in offering unholy incense to the Lord; and God instantly struck them dead (see Lev. 10). Moses stole God’s glory in front of all Israel and struck the rock, saying, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Num. 20:10). Notice the word we. God was the One who would bring water from the rock. Moses took God’s glory, and God refused to take away the consequences of that disobedience: He refused to allow Moses to go with Israel into the promised land.

God loves you, and He wants what is best for you. That is why He gives you His commands and instructions. His instructions are not to limit or restrict you but to free you to experience the most meaningful life possible. Obedience brings joy and uninterrupted fellowship with God.

A hymn by John H. Sammis reminds us of the relationship between obedience and fellowship with God:

When we walk with the Lord / In the Light of His Word / What a glory He sheds on our way!

Let us do His good will / He abides with us still / And with all who will trust and obey

But we never can prove / The delights of His love / Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows / And the joy He bestows / Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet / We will sit at His feet / Or we’ll walk by His side in the way

What He says we will do / Where He sends we will go / Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey