Obedience, Not Rebellion, Brings Freedom

Recently, I was told by a sweet and caring friend that I “really, really, really need to stop” doing some things. I know, she spoke the truth to me, and God showed me that I have been rebellious and disobedient, not to her advice that she had already given me a few weeks prior, but to His Word and command to do all to His glory. Sin does not and never will bring glory to God. As I thought on these things, I decided to look up the word acceptable in the Bible. The result of this study is realizing that freedom does not come by rebelling, but by obedience. God then took me on a journey with the following verses and did a work in my heart.

In Daniel, chapter 4 Nebuchadnezzar had had a dream. God gave Daniel the wisdom to interpret this dream and advised him to humble himself before God and do right if he wanted to continue to have a peaceful life. Daniel 4:27 ~ “Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.”
     However, Nebuchadnezzar did not heed the counsel of Daniel and continued in his pride. One year later, he was driven from his kingdom and palace out into the field. He lost his mind for seven years, ate grass like the cows, his hair grew like an eagle's feathers and his nails grew to be like bird claws.
       Most likely, we will not experience this kind of judgment, but there will always be consequences to sin that will not only affect us by others as well.
      Sin is often categorized leading us to think that there are “big sins” like murder, adultery and lying and “little sins,” such as lust, hatred and white lies. In God's eyes these sins are the same (Matthew 5:21-22, 27- 28). All sin is sin and equally bad, though the actions of people, results and consequences vary greatly.
      When satan lifted himself up with pride and wanted to be like God, he sinned. Then he tempted Eve to sin, promising her that her life would be better. Adam then chose to disobey God, and now every person is born a sinner in need of a Savior. From the time that God called Adam in the Garden of Eden to eternity the love of God is seen. The way of salvation was already in place before people were ever created. (John 3:16)

If we want to live a happy and fulfilled life, then we must be obedient to God and heed the counsel of the Word of God, be it from preaching, the conviction of the Holy Spirit as we read and study the Bible, or the exhortations from a caring friend. (Exhort means to correct of wrong doing with instruction to do right.) However, if we choose rebellion over obedience, we are setting ourselves up for disaster.
     Satan wants us to think that there is freedom and fun in rebellion, deceiving people into thinking that sin will bring lasting happiness. Rebellion is as bad as witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23) and will lead to misery, heartbreak and eventually death. But freedom is actually found in obedience that will bring joy, peace and life to every day and forever.

If we are walking in obedience, our lives will be pleasing to God, we will grow spiritually and we will manifest to others the goodness of God. Romans 12:1-2  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect ,will of God.
     We cannot live in sin and be acceptable to God at the same time. When the Holy Spirit convicts and shows us sin in our lives, we need to be willing to confess our sin to God and seek His help to be renewed and transformed.
     To be renewed means to “give fresh life or strength to; revive.” When our heart's desire is to walk in obedience and live a life pleasing to the Lord, God will reveal to us the lies of satan that we may be believing and then we must study the Word of God to find His truth to replace those lies. (For example, if you are feeling unloved by God, then do a word study of the verses that mention God's love.) God wants us to surrender all distractions, sins, desires and anything that hinders us from living for Him. As we surrender and fill our minds and hearts with God's truth, we will experience a renewal of life and joy that we would never know if we continued to live in rebellion.
     To be transformed means “a thorough change, not a modification or a comfortable tweak.” When I first read this definition, it really made me think  “how much do I really want God to change me”? 
     If we believe the lie of satan that “a little sinning won't hurt,” and we give in to that sin, then we choose to obey only when we feel like it. This is living in rebellion and not walking in obedience. If my level of obedience is only a “comfortable tweak” that makes me feel good about my sin or think “just this one time will be all right,” then I am still doing wrong and justifying my sin. To be transformed we must choose to fully obey in whatever area God shows us.

Now, we do still sin as Christians, but our heart’s desire should be to live a life of surrendering all of our fleshly desires to God, relying on and trusting Him to help us obey, because He has given us the weapons (see Ephesians 6:10-18) we need to overcome sin. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ~ “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” Not only are our actions a result of our thoughts, but sinful thoughts are sin too. We must surrender our mind and body to the Lord, choosing to spend time with God by prayer, Bible reading and study and praise in order to live in His power.

How we use time, the choices we make and the things we do must glorify God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ~ “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. When God is glorified through our living obediently, we will have true joy and freedom. Obedience, not rebellion, brings freedom.