Day 4

Worship Through Obedience



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.

Post Comments (36)

36 thoughts on "Worship Through Obedience"

  1. Mercy says:

    The picture of Daniel in the lions’ den is to me a picture of bold faith, persistent faith, continual faith on display even at the cost of one’s life. And look how God treasured that, look how God protected that, and how He promoted such example, like a lamp on the high post. This story is still being told onto this day.

    Daniel’s faith and complete trust in God has elevated him to be first among all administrations of this foreign pagan king. And this king, with no knowledge of God, became deeply hurt upon recognizing he was manipulated by a group of Daniel’s haters, he even fasted and proclaimed “Daniel your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you” (Daniel 6:16 KJV). Did the king just prophesy? Did the king just realize how big this God is and He is capable to deliver? This shows a mental recognition, a heart of repentance, to the profession through the king’s mouth. Daniel indirectly ministered to this pagan king without preaching, but by openly displaying the reverence for God, the love for God continually above the love for his own life.

    May we love God not in secret, not just in our hearts quietly, not bury God so deep that nobody even knows that we are Christians, but may we love God openly, boldly with our words and actions, in our homes and rooms with open windows, in our workplace, in our actions and humble attitude for all to see. W

    When God came down on earth as Jesus to die for us, He did so humbly, to redeem us from the widespread wickedness of sin, He did so openly, He took insults and whiplash for all to see and tremble. Let us display our love and commitment to Him like Daniel did.

    Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind.

  2. Christina Sach says:

  3. Hayden Chamness says:

    Love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self control ❤️❤️❤️

  4. Laura DeLisle says:

    Faithful obedience and worship are the keys to living a life sanctified and dedicated to our Lord God!

  5. Laura DeLisle says:

    Obedience, worship and love. If we stick to these, we will live a righteous life that glorifies God.

  6. Avis DeniseGraves says:

    Bless the name of the Lord.

  7. Monica Davis says:

    The lord is god

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