Worship Through Obedience
Open Your Bible
Daniel 6:1-24, Colossians 3:17, Psalm 19:7-14, Micah 6:8
BY Guest Writer
If we believe all of God’s Word is true, then we must receive even the hard things as being good for us. This means these words from the psalmist are true as well:
The precepts of the LORD are right,
making the heart glad;
the command of the LORD is radiant,
making the eyes light up.
–Psalm 19:8
The Lord’s commands are “radiant”—brilliant and beaming beacons of light in this world—and this verse tells us they are able to bring us joy. Those words are poetry, yes, but they are also true and applicable. So do we believe them in a practical sense? Do we experience joy from God’s commands? Do we feed and thrive on faithfulness and obedience to God as Daniel did?
For Daniel, there was no room for discussion about obedience. Even when he knew he’d be thrown into the lion’s den for worshiping the Lord, “three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10). Obedience and worship were a way of life for Daniel, a posture of his heart and indicative of his relationship with God, not just a response to crisis.
In giving our lives in obedience to the Lord, in doing “everything in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17), we ascribe worth to God, acknowledging that He alone is worthy of our worship, not only through our words but also through our actions. When we choose to live in accordance with God’s Word and His ways, we submit to His will and die to our own.
Living as an exile in Babylon most of his life, Daniel knew well that the earth was not his ultimate home, and he lived like it. He lived in obedience and continual service to his King, the Lord of heaven and of earth. Do we live like that? Do our lives look as radically obedient as Daniel’s life? Do the Lord’s commands bring light to our eyes or weight to our hearts? We know theoretically that God’s commands are for our good. But if we’re honest, we’re a wrecked, half-hearted people who worship so many other things with our lives.
But “the LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 103:8); He does not leave us to ourselves. While we were still lost to our sin, Jesus Christ came to save us from ourselves, humbling “himself by becoming obedient to the point of death” (Romans 5:8; Philippians 2:7–8). Even now, He is sanctifying us into a people who will worship Him with our whole heart and whole lives in obedience to Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). The One who calls us to obedience gives us everything we need to obey Him (2 Peter 1:3).
Kimberly Girard is a well-loved child of God, wife of an extraordinary man, mother of three amazing kids, and writer living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can find her at Loud Singing and on Twitter.
36 thoughts on "Worship Through Obedience"
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An honest mirror by which to view my own heart while seeing into a “man after God’s own heart.” An unequivocal conviction of my own shortcomings followed by blessed reassurance of Christ’s presence and power to make possible the things he asks of me. May I preach these things to myself every day!! Thank you for the words of wisdom and grace this morning!
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A stone and a seal did not prevent Daniel from coming out alive and unscathed. A stone and a seal did not prevent Jesus from coming out alive and unscathed! Our God is able to shut the mouths of lions and He is able to empower His people through His Spirit to walk in His love. We are sealed with His Spirit and as we submit to Him we become as Daniel – known for our faithfulness to our God. One small act of obedience begets more steps. When we think of all the things we would like changed in this world it is daunting. But if we narrow our focus to the one thing we can do today in our world, it is possible. The Bible commands us to love one another and there are countless creative ways to do that. His commands are not harsh. They have purpose. Think of an umbrella. It protects us from the rain and also provides shelter. So with God’s commands. Their purpose is both protection and provision. We can be confident in our obedience. He will protect and provide. And in the process others may be influenced to follow Him also. Let us be agents for change in our world for Him, in Him and through Him. To Him be the glory!
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That first part is a great insight!
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Thanks for sharing! I never connected the sealed stone between Daniel and Jesus! Also, needed to hear instead of looking at the big picture of everything you need to do/want to change, take it one step at a time…
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So, yesterday I shared that I have been reading Daniel. I did not look ahead in our study. I just did what I often do…finished a book of the Bible and said, “Okay God, where to next?” I felt the call to Daniel and so we went. Anyway, I finished this morning. Then I came to read my SRT and found it from Daniel as well, in regard to his obedience. I marvel over and over again and love how God always goes before us, preparing us and guiding us. It blows me away and leaves me blessedly humble and awed to know I am so completely cared for.
Anyway, in the last couple chapters of Daniel he sees visions of the future and experiences strength-zapping, fear-gripping, breath-stealing weakness throughout his body. It is enticing to my imagination as the Bible describes his visions and the heavenly “men” who explain things to him…One the Word names as Gabriel. I’m guessing the one in linen with a gold belt, lightning face, flaming eyes, yellowed body and arms and legs like burnished bronze is possibly Jesus…BUT, I digress.
Where the Lord landed me this morning was, 3 or more times, as Daniel is being spoken to, he is told “you are treasured by God,” or depending on the version you read, “God loves you very much.”
Now, I “know” God treasures us. I “know” God loves us. Jesus coming to earth, his death, burial, and resurrection pound that love in. But this morning, like Daniel, I am strength-zapped, holy-fear and wonder-gripped, breath-stolen yearning for the day when the journey on earth is complete to hear the words, “I treasure you,” or “I love you very much.”Daniel’s faithful obedience may have started in his youth as a stubborn (in a good way) following after the God of the people and land he had been taken from…but day by day, month by month, year by year…as he obeyed God in every circumstance, as he knelt to pray and petition the One he trusted, Daniel’s love obedience grew. His obedience became worship.
Regardless of our age, we are at different places in our spiritual journey. A 10 or 90 year old could be at the beginning, filled with the joy of being saved out of the old, now clean and refreshingly new, beginning their walk of obedience. Others today may be holding on in stubborn obedience to what they know and trust of God, in circumstances that might not be the easiest right at the moment. Or maybe you are at a very deep level, where obedience over time has lead to a form of the purest worship. As we draw closer to God, and our little bit of understanding grows bigger ,we are blown away with His love. Our desire to obey out of His love, is like breath. Then, when we are all soaked up in the amazingness of all of this, once again He declares, “I love you very much. I treasure you. Right now. Where you are.”
May we worship in obedience, out of His love. So be it Lord. Amen.
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Wow! Thank you for sharing this! Your words encouraged me today!
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Thank you for sharing! What a great addition to this reading. Obedience is something that I have been thinking about a lot over the last few years with confusing circumstances in my life. It is wonderful to think that obedience, even when we don’t really want to obey and can’t understand the reasoning behind it, is an act of worship and faith and leads to a deeper truth of God and this deeper desire to worship. It is a cycle of increasing faith and fulfillment.
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Thank you for your post Angie! Beautiful words this morning!
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Amen!!
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Love when he brings you to the same passage to confirm what we think we are hearing. You are treasured, and are most certainly loved by our God!
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Obedience to God doesn’t mean picking apart the Bible to determine what rules to follow, but rather building a strong relationship with God. This relational theme is set through all the scriptures on obedience. The only ‘rule’ is to love God with all your heart (relational) and to love others as yourself (relational). Morality falls in line as a byproduct—and they’ll know we are Christians by our love. This is why obedience is so important as a form of worship.
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Amen!!
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Holy Spirit strengthen my obedience and joy
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Oh God, may I grow to live in obedience everyday, with joy, just as Daniel did.
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I love that Daniel was fully devoted to his personal worship to the Lord. He didn’t try and convince the King to change the law or rally others to respond like him. He knew he was in a world that didn’t operate by God’s laws but he didn’t use his position to force his faith onto those he had influence over. He also didn’t let that world change him or his convictions. Our lives of worship and obedience are our most enduring and effective testimonies.
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The king threw the wives and childrens to the lions too.
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Yeah this was the first time this part actually stood out to me. Wow!
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Then there would be no line of revenge or retribution.
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