I think that many times we confuse religiosity with obedience. We can think of obedience as attending Sunday services, mechanically praying at dawn or dusk and before meals, listening to worship music “because it’s the right thing to do for Christians,” and in general, trying to behave appropriately. But is that really obedience? Is that what God expects of his children?
“…But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Matthew 23:23 NIV)
I think that is religiosity, because we turn fundamental acts of our relationship with God into mechanical acts that we «must do» because we are Christians. When people followed Jesus and listened to him, it was because they were truly hungry for his word, not because they «had to attend.» The purpose of listening to Christian music is to worship him, to feel connected to him, to be filled with his Spirit. Does God want us to pray mechanically? Praying is talking with God, and consequently, it is what keeps this two-way relationship active. I think that praying mechanically is like telling someone that you love him, without feeling it, just like a repetition without emotion. In every act we perform, how would God find our hearts? Is acting repetitively, obeying?
“…For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,and then the outside will become clean, too.” (Matthew 23:25-26 NLT) Obedience is an act of love, which goes beyond rituals and repetitions. This does not mean that it is easy, many times it can be complex, it can confuse us, it can take us out of our comfort zone.
But obedience is an act of love and faith, because it implies that we have an active communication with God, which means that we dedicate time to him from the heart, it implies that we are willing to listen to his direction and that we trust him, in his plans, although we might not understand them. It implies that we are willing to allow ourselves to be guided by his Word and Spirit.
We have obvious instructions, like the commandments, but at different stages in our lives we can have confusing instructions. We can see some examples such as the widow of Sarepta who had to feed Elijah, she only had a handful of flour and a little oil to feed herself and her son. Naaman who had to wash seven times in the river to be healed of his leprosy.
In our lives we can experience such confusing instructions, and only faith in God, and communion with Him, will give us the strength and courage to obey them. We can long for a marriage, and God’s instruction at that point is, end the current relationship. We may be in a difficult financial situation, and the instruction is to help someone else materially. We do not want to go or it is very difficult for us to go somewhere, and the instruction is to go to that place. Our own medical diagnosis is not encouraging, and He commands us to pray for someone else’s healing.
But it is there, where our humanity does not understand, that the supernaturality of God enters and surprises us with situations of blessing, and we see the fruits of obedience. It is there, where our hearts are tested, challenged and blessed, if we are obedient.
“Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” (John 14:23 NLT)
