Have you ever wondered, “How to obey God?” It’s something we hear about a lot. You probably hear it in church, when people talk about the Bible and more. For many, this statement can feel confusing. How can I truly obey him? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQieRyIeFVE This week, we asked our UNCOMMEN community this question: What have you been called to do but haven’t done yet?

• Recent prayer is revealing hospitality and grace around the table
• Serving/volunteering at the church
• Lead young men to Christ and Kingdom living before sin grips their lifestyle
• Live like I’m free instead of worrying
• Stepping into networking more

Those few select responses give you a glimpse into what many men are feeling around the world. They know there are things they should be doing and are even called to do (volunteering at the church), but they don’t. Reasons vary, of course. Some things you aren’t called to do by God (networking) but can still be vital to your work life. Regardless, it’s something you have a desire to do but haven’t done yet.

The Call of Salvation

Let’s consider the call of salvation and some passages about that:

• “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” – John 15:16
• “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
• “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” – 2 Timothy 1:9
• ” 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.” – Matthew 28:19-20

So, the call is quite clear. In many of these references, the call is unto salvation. This is a call by God. “You did not choose me but I chose you,” (John 15:16a). In short, you can’t push this item down the to-do list. God moved it to the front. If you are called to salvation, you will be saved. The final verse in that list was from Matthew 28:19-20. This had to do less with salvation and was a command by God to do something. We’re told to make disciples of all nations. So, when it comes to God’s commands—things we know we should do—why do we procrastinate? Why do we procrastinate?

• We don’t feel qualified
• We’re afraid of failing at the tasks that we need to complete
• Low self-esteem
• Low self-confidence
• Be judged / Peer pressure
• Overwhelmed
• Worried about making the wrong decision

Certainly, we can come up with dozens of reasons why some things we are called to do are difficult. We are being called to be obedient, though. The Holy God is calling you to obey. Regardless of the difficulty, I think we’d better listen.

What if we don’t listen and obey?

Well, when it comes to a worldly example, like your work, you may lose your job. If you’re tasked to do something and don’t do it, you’ll be dismissed to do something else or be fired entirely. When it comes to Godly living, our fruitfulness may be less effective. Consider 2 Peter 1:5-8: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

How to Obey God

We should want to be effective and fruitful. That comes with those things listed in 2 Peter. Virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, affection, and love. Those are items commanded of God for us. If we do them, we’ll be effective and fruitful.