Simon Peter and some other fishermen were washing their nets when Jesus asked Peter to take the boat out from the shore a little so Jesus could preach to the people assembled on the shoreline. When He finished preaching, He told Peter to head out into the lake and throw in his net for a catch (Luke 5:1-4). Despite fishing all night with no results Peter replied: “at your word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5b; NKJV). Now that’s obedience! It’s sometimes good to think, “how obedient are we to God?” Jesus told us that He only did, “what He sees the Father do” (John 5:19; NKJV) and He did not follow His own will but that of the Father (John 5:30b; NKJV). In fact, Jesus’ obedience to the Father extended to dying on a cross (Phil 2:8). Jesus, in addressing a large multitude of people, said, “Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things I say?” (Luke 6:46; NKJV). Sadly, many church goers do not speak or act any differently from non-church goers. We are not to be men-pleasers bit God-pleasers, doing His will from our hearts (Eph 6:6). The apostle John wrote that we would be less than honest if we claimed an intimate relationship with God and yet did not walk in obedience to Him (1 John 2:3-6). To be part of God’s kingdom requires serious obedience (Matt 7:21). If we truly obey God’s word He comes and dwells with or makes His home with and in us (John 14:23). Let’s give Jesus the last word, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it”! (Luke 11:28; NKJV). I like that, how about you?

I