English: The Ten Commandments, illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
For many years, I convince myself that SELF INDULGENCE was the biggest problem a Christian face; then as I grow older and wiser, I realize that I, like all Christians have difficulty obeying God’s commands consistently. The enemy has sown the seed of disobedience in our hearts, which created a struggle between good and evil. Therefore, being obedient to God is the single most difficult thing to do in our Christian lives.
It all started in the Garden of Eden. “And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because if you eat from that tree, you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). It did not matter that God told the first family that death is the penalty for breaking the rules; nonetheless, both man and the woman decided to disobey God command anyway and eat from the forbidden tree. Since then, the human race has had a rather difficult time, obeying God rules.Disobeying God commands leads to sin.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has a lot to say about obedience. In the story of the Ten Commandments, we see how valuable the concept of obedience is to God. Deuteronomy 11:26–28 sums it up like this: “Behold, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse. A blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command, you today. A curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods, which you have, not known”.
Let’s be honest, disobedience runs rampant in the Church. It was a problem before Jesus’ time, and it is a problem today. No one among us can honestly claim that he or she is blameless in this regard. Nevertheless, we must endeavor to achieve total obedience to God if we ever hope to walk in Jesus’ footsteps; but, that can only happen if we surrender our entire beings to Him. A good place to start is to practice what we preach.
Let's Talk Gospel 
Good post Noel. Would not it be wonderful if we could be “blameless in this regard?” You know sometimes I think, “God gave to us “Ten” Commandments.” Not a hundred and not a thousand. “Ten!” Somewhere in my day I am at least going to break one if not all of them. (Well I am safe on the adultery thing:>) For me that goes to show how it is a constant battle with the enemy. Good post and God Bless, SR
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SR, Jesus knew it was not going to be easy for us to walk in His footsteps, so He gave us a blueprint. But even with that blueprint we stumle along the way. As Tatum pointed out in her comment,even the great Saint Paul stumbled. In Romans 7:21-25, Paul writes: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Thanks so much for your comment. God blesses.
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“No one among us can honestly claim that he or she is blameless in this regard. Nevertheless, we must endeavor to achieve total obedience to God if we ever hope to walk in Jesus’ footsteps; but, that can only happen if we surrender our entire beings to Him. A good place to start is to practice what we preach.”
Wonderful exhortation for all of us Noel. Although none of us are sinless nor will we be this side of heaven…. we are to strive for absolute surrender and obedience to the commands and desires of God for our lives.
Lord bless you, Noel. Thanks for another wonderful study.
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Thanks for your inspiring comment, Pastor. Jesus knew we would have a hard time following in His footsteps, that is the reason He left us the blueprint. Still, even with the blueprint in hand, and His differentiating the difference between the narrow and the wide gate, make mistakes along the way. But we serve a benevolent God, who is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Thanks again. God blesses.
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Amen. I’m grateful God is a Father who really does know your heart and disciplines and corrects accordingly. I’m grateful that there’s nowhere I can go and hide from His love, discipline and mercy.
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Afi, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He is with us all the way, working on our behalf.
Thanks so much for your input. God blesses.
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I am thankful for the grace of Jesus Christ, especially. I echo what Paul wrote to the Romans, “For what I’m doing, I do not understand. For I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate…wretched man that I am, who will set me free from the body of this death!”
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Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Tatum. Indeed! There is a constant struggle between good and evil. But if we followed the teachings of Jesus, then good will triump over evil.
Thanks again. God blesses.
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Great post. Obedience is the struggle for Christians. We are redeemed and reborn, but Satan can do a lot of damage if he can keep us from obeying daily. There are no small decisions when it comes to obedience.
I once heard a pastor say that obedience is not a decision one makes when a temptation arises. The decision to obey must be made prior to the temptation. That keeps us from struggling when it does come. Still, we are in the flesh.
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Great post! Thank you.
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Thanks for your comment Sheryl. I pray the grace of God will abide with you always.
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No worries. I had to share it SR. The message is too powerful. Thanks
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Sad to say but most do not recognize sin as sin any more — even in the church! Great message, Noel!
God Bless you!
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Thanks Lady D! We must constantly work to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, and be the change we want to see in the world.
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I am only 13 and having a hard time understanding the concept of obedience (typical teenager.) This message helped it become a lot clearer to me.
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