Why obey him?

Jesus is better off for having been crucified. Seriously, he was obedient, then rose from the dead and now he reigns with the Father.

Sometimes, living disciplined and obedient feels terrible, but there is no regret when we are. Life is better when we're obedient. Even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. Selfishly, it's a better life to obey Jesus.  Not for good self image, but to love Him, who loves me far more.

My heart needs changing.

It isn't natural to obey Jesus. My instinct tells me to be greedy, jealous, lustful, angry and controlling. But my heart needs to be changed, and it is slowly changing, the more I obey him.

*God, I need your help to love you and to love people.*

Obedience, not just learning

I am 29 years old with a wife and two kids, working an engineering job, living in a suburban condo, and want to be a real disciple of Jesus. I want to live God's ways, but I know I am hardly living in his Kingdom. So, this blog is intended to help me think through obeying Jesus.

His famous geotechnical teaching is not about being smart or believing in God, but about putting his words into practice. The foolish man whose house fell also heard his words, but didn't put them into practice.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Then, after Jesus rises from the dead, he has conversations with his disciples (who are shocked and worship him), and he is about to ascend to heaven. But before he goes, tells them...

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

hmmm.....

Apparently, the reason he wants disciples to tell the world about him isn't just to make him famous, he is interested in obedience which will revolutionize the world, and save our deceitful souls in the process. I need to obey him - not put on a spiritual front. This means not obeying my instincts, preferences, reputation or bank account - but Jesus.

What would it be like if I were consistently a "doer of the Word" and not a hearer only? I'm tempted to think it's impossible, but all things are possible with God. God please help me.