Some kids are a little more testy than others. My son, for example, loves to push the boundaries just to see what will happen. I can see his little hand emerging ever so slowly toward the object of desire when he’s been told not to touch, just to see if I will follow through on consequences. He is learning what obedience means, but he still chooses not to direct his flesh at times.

We all so desire that our children would obey us when we tell them something. I do not think this is at all unlike God who so desires for us to obey Him when He tells US something. Unfortunately, like the child who wishes to go his own way instead of choosing to be obedient, so too, we Christians sometimes choose to disobey God as well.

When we come to know and accept Jesus Christ as our very own Lord and Savior, then we receive the fulness of Christ within us. We ARE able to now overcome sin in our lives, but here is the catch. We must be WILLING!

You see, there is a dichotomy here of two parts, separate and distinct, yet trying to live intertwined within one person. They are called the flesh and the spirit. When we have a personal relationship with Jesus, we become a new creation. Old things have passed away. Yet, even though we have all of Christ at that very moment, and the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts, we still battle that old nature, the flesh, until we die because we still have to live in our earthly bodies. This does not give us license to sin, but the flesh will always rear its ugly head at times. Paul spoke of it in Romans 7:19 For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish.

It is useless to ask God what His will is for our lives when we are not willing to obey. Many times we ask God what His desires are for us, but not with a heart ready and open and willing to follow His lead as He calls us to do. Why ask then? If He calls us to do something for Him and His Kingdom and we desire not to act, or if we know by His Word that His answer is no and we continue to do what our own selfish desires are, then it is most likely that God will not respond to our prayers. Jesus questioned those who saw their self-righteousness, but was unwilling to act in obedience to Him. Luke 6:46 "And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"

Obedience is nothing but a choice, and can really only be accomplished by implementing ALL of Christ within us. John 15:5 says "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing." Only by Jesus and through Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s work in us are we able to be obedient and to make right choices according to God’s Word. When we surrender all, and act in the will of God, then it is true that we can move mountains. All too often, though, we get self in the way, and self will always hinder the work of God in our lives.

I like one of Webster’s 1828 Dictionary definitions of obedience: "submissive to authority". We are called to be just like Jesus who was 100% of the time obedient to the Father and His authority. As a man, He accepted that submissive role that He was placed in. Just like Jesus, we too are capable to resist sin and be submissive to the authority of the Father. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

This concept is most assuredly in contrast to the self. To demonstrate submission over idolatry of self, one must consider dying to self in order to have the power to choose obedience to Christ, being a yielded vessel for God so He may use us in whatever manner He desires, total surrender, total trust, and total faith in the One True God, being transparent and vulnerable with others, and fearing God instead of fearing man. Do you see the connection here between dying to self and obedience to Christ? All of the life we live in Jesus is intertwined and revolves around our being submissive to Him.

Consider obedience. "And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15