Exodus 19:5 “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.” Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. Obedience is something we don’t hear much about, we preach so much on salvation by grace through faith and we tell people that salvation is a gift of God, that sometimes if we talk about obedience people think we’re legalist but I would have to agree with Martin Luther who said we’re not saved by faith and works, but we are saved by a faith that works and James said that faith without works is dead. Obedience is not optional for believers; Jesus Christ simply states the fact: “If you love me you will keep my commandments. Jesus is not giving here an optional obedience. He is saying that the man who truly loves Him will obey His commandments. Have you ever made a decision to obey God as a way of life? I’m not talking about obeying once in a while but in every area to the best of your knowledge and ability. Or do you find that there are times when you struggle to do what you know are right and in keeping with His principles? There may be times when it is easy to discern between what is right and in keeping with God’s will and what is wrong and not a part of His plan. In fact, you may actually obey Him at crucial junctures because you want His best. We should obey Him regardless of what we think or how we feel. It is a matter of choice, but one that many Christians do not yet understand or submit to. Far too often, people evaluate their circumstances according to what they perceive will profit them: How will this help me get ahead? or Will this move be beneficial to my future? We say we believe God is all-wise and knows what is best for us, but often we end up looking for advice from people around us and not from the only One who knows everything we need to know. We need to consider only one issue: Is this God’s will for my life? Being obedient does not mean that we will never face difficult decisions. It means that when we do, we will resolve that He has gone before us; and because we have committed our lives to Him, the way we travel will be straight, sure and manageable. Disobedience can be as simple as not trusting Him to take care of your immediate need at home, in your community or on your job. There are many facets surrounding obedience but only one way to accomplish it and that is through surrender to the One who loves you and has a plan for your life and circumstances. Our obedience to God allows Him to demonstrate His awesome power in our lives. Our obedience also allows God to bless others through us. Pastor Yemisi Onanuga