– Doing what you have been asked to do by God or authorities with a good attitude –
Obedience is choosing to do what God has asked you to do with a good attitude and to the best of your ability. You don’t have to understand in order to obey. You don’t have to agree in order to obey. You don’t even have to like what you’ve been asked to do to obey. When you obey you are showing that you trust God and you are willing to follow Him.
God also asks you to obey the authorities who are in charge of you. This includes teachers, coaches, police, the government, and of course – your parents. So obeying the authorities is also a way of obeying and trusting God. However, if anyone (even an authority figure) ever asks you to do something that is against what God says is right, you can choose to obey God instead of the authority that is asking you to do something wrong. Many people in some countries have been thrown in jail or killed because they chose not to obey authorities who told them not to read the Bible or talk to God. There are consequences for disobeying authorities, but when people ask you to disobey God you should always obey God first – no matter what happens.
Perfect obedience is done right away, all the way, with a good attitude, and to the best of your ability. It is not easy to obey perfectly but it does please God when we obey.
“But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.“ – 1 Samuel 15:22 (NLT)
- Why is it difficult to obey at times?
- Why does obedience to authorities please God?
- Should we ever disobey authorities?
- What ways do you think you can be better in obedience?
More Discussion Ideas
- Following directions from God and other authorities with a good attitude
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Parent Resources
What does the Bible say about Obedience? – Article by GotQuestions.org
