Applying the Principle of Obedience in Daily Life

The principle of obedience in daily life, within a biblical framework, centers on heeding God's commands and living in accordance with His will. This obedience is not merely outward conformity but stems from an internal disposition of faith and love ^{[1, 11]}.

Biblical texts frequently command obedience. Deuteronomy 7:11 states, "You shall therefore keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances, which I command you this day, to do them" ^[3]. Similarly, Proverbs 7:2 urges, "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thy eye" ^[5]. Obedience encompasses various aspects: obeying God's voice, His law, Christ, and the gospel, as well as keeping His commandments ^[1]. It is considered better than sacrifice ^[1].

The New Testament reinforces this, with passages like Romans 1:5 and 6:17 speaking of "obeying the gospel" ^[1]. The apostle Paul also instructs believers to submit to higher powers (Romans 13:1) ^[1]. The author of Hebrews warns against falling into disobedience, urging diligence to enter God's rest (Hebrews 4:11) ^[6].

Obedience is presented as a characteristic of saints (1 Peter 1:14) and is exemplified by Christ himself (Matthew 3:15; John 15:20; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 5:8) ^[1]. Angels are also depicted as engaged in obedience (Psalm 103:20) ^[1].

The motivation for obedience is crucial. John Gill notes that obedience should flow from love for God, which is the "end of the commandment" ^[11]. Matthew Henry emphasizes that obedience must be "careful," "universal," and stem from "a good principle," including a holy fear of God, reverence for His majesty, and submission to His authority ^[9]. He also connects obedience to wisdom, stating that the purpose of wisdom's discourse is to bring individuals into "entire subjection to the laws of religion" ^[10].

Christian conduct, therefore, involves not only obeying God and Christ but also believing God, fearing God, loving God, and following God's example ^[4]. This requires heedfulness in various areas of life, such as caring for one's soul, worship, listening, conduct, speech, and guarding against sin, unbelief, and false teachings ^[2].

The concept of self-denial is closely linked to obedience. Christ set an example of self-denial (Matthew 4:8-10; John 6:38; Philippians 2:6-8) ^[7]. It is considered a test of devotion to Christ and necessary for following Him, engaging in the "warfare of saints," and achieving triumph ^[7]. This includes denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling appetite, abstaining from fleshly lusts, and mortifying sinful desires ^[7]. The grace of God disciplines believers to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, teaching them to live "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" ^[12].

Diligence is also a key component of applying the principle of obedience. God requires diligence in seeking Him, obeying Him, hearkening to Him, striving for perfection, cultivating Christian graces, keeping the soul and heart, and engaging in "labours of love" ^[8]. Adam Clarke, commenting on Joshua 22:5, highlights that prosperity and possession of the land depended on fidelity and obedience to God, requiring "diligent heed" to every moral precept and religious ceremony, all rooted in an "affectionate filial attachment to their Maker" ^[13].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heedfulness — Commanded -- Ex 23:13; Pr 4:25-27. Necessary In the care of the soul. -- De 4:9. In the house and worship of God. -- Ec 5:1. In what we hear. -- Mr 4:24. In how we hear. -- Lu 8:18. In keeping God's commandments. -- Jos 22:5. In conduct. -- Eph 5:15. In speech. -- Pr 13:3; Jas 1:19. In worldly company. -- Ps 39:1; Col 4:5. In giving judgment. -- 1Ch 19:6,7. Against sin. -- Heb 12:15,16. Against unbelief. -- Heb 3:12. Against idolatry. -- De 4:15,16. Against false Christs, and false prophets. -- Mt 24:4,5,23,24. Against false teachers. -- Phm 3:2; Col 2:”
Deuteronomy “You shall therefore keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances, which I command you this day, to do them. -- Deuteronomy 7:11”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
Proverbs “Proverbs 7:2 (Webster) — Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thy eye.”
Hebrews “Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. -- Hebrews 4:11”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 8:1: The charge here given them is the same as before, to keep and do all God's commandments. Their obedience must be, 1. Careful: Observe to do. 2. Universal: To do all the commandments, Deu 8:1. And, 3. From a good principle, with a regard to God as the Lord, and their God, and particularly with a holy fear of him (Deu 8:6), from a reverence of his majesty, a submission to his authority, and a dread of his wrath. To engage them to this obedience, besides the great advantages of it, which he sets before them (that they should live and multiply, and all should be w”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 8:32: We have here the application of Wisdom's discourse; the design and tendency of it is to bring us all into an entire subjection to the laws of religion, to make us wise and good, not to fill our heads with speculations, or our tongues with disputes, but to rectify what is amiss in our hearts and lives. In order to this, here is, I. An exhortation to hear and obey the voice of Wisdom, to attend and comply with the good instructions that the word of God gives us, and in them to discern the voice of Christ, as the sheep know the shepherd's voice. 1. We must be dilig”
Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 11:17: For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you to do them,.... Observe and take notice of them, even all of them, and so as not merely to have a theory or notional knowledge of them, but to put them in practice: to love the Lord your God; and show it by obeying his commands, and which is the end of the commandment, and the principle from which all obedience should flow: to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; see Deu 10:12.”
Titus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Titus 2:12: Teaching--Greek, "disciplining us." Grace exercises discipline, and is imparted in connection with disciplining chastisements (Co1 11:32; Heb 12:6-7). The education which the Christian receives from "the grace" of God is a discipline often trying to flesh and blood: just as children need disciplining. The discipline which it exercises teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Greek, "age," or course of things) where such self-discipline is needed, seeing that its spirit is oppos”
Joshua (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Joshua 22:5: But take diligent heed, etc. - Let us examine the force of this excellent advice; they must ever consider that their prosperity and continued possession of the land depended on their fidelity and obedience to God; to this they must take diligent heed. Do the commandment - They must pay the strictest regard to every moral precept. And the law - They must observe all the rites and ceremonies of their holy religion. Love the Lord your God - Without an affectionate filial attachment to their Maker, duty would be irksome, grievous, and impossible. Walk in all his ways - ”

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