A Simple Explanation
Obedience isn’t just about following rules or doing what you’re told. In the context of faith and spiritual life, it’s a journey—one that begins with a big decision and continues step by step.
The Gate of Obedience: Starting Point
Imagine there’s a door, called the “gate of obedience.” You can’t really start living a life of obedience until you walk through this door. Going through the gate means making a clear choice: you decide to let go of your own plans, preferences, or stubborn ways and choose to trust and follow God. It’s not about giving up once or twice, but fully surrendering your heart and will. This might be tough—like saying goodbye to old habits, pride, or things you hold dear.
The Way of Obedience: The Ongoing Journey
Once you’ve stepped through the “gate,” you find yourself on a path—the “way of obedience.” This is about the everyday choices you make to keep following God, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. Sometimes, it might feel hard or even painful, but the point is to keep going, one step at a time.
Why Is This So Important?
If someone hasn’t made that first big choice—to really surrender and trust God—then trying to obey in daily life will always feel forced or impossible. The journey really starts when you let go and say, “God, I’m all in.” After that, God may ask you to let go of certain things, or to face difficult situations, but you’ll be ready because you’ve already made that first decision.
Learning from the Story of Rebecca
The text uses the story of Rebecca from the Bible. When asked if she would leave her home and family to marry Isaac, she agreed, stepping into a new and unknown life. That’s a picture of what obedience looks like: sometimes it means leaving comfort and safety behind, and trusting that the new path is good.
It’s Not About Being Perfect
We all struggle. Sometimes, we might want to avoid what God is asking us to do, or run away from tough choices. That’s normal—but the encouragement here is not to give up. The journey of obedience is about being honest with yourself and with God, and being willing to let Him lead, even when it’s hard.
What’s the Result?
When you go through the gate and walk the path of obedience, you start to really belong to God in a deeper way. Your faith grows, your character changes, and you discover that nothing is too hard or too costly if it means following Him.
Final Thoughts
To sum up: first, make the decision to surrender to God (enter the gate); then, day by day, walk the path by following Him in each circumstance (walk the way). Both steps matter. If you want to grow in faith and obedience, you have to start at the beginning and keep going, no matter how challenging the journey becomes.
Obedience is not just about the rules—it’s about relationship, trust, and love. And the promise is that the path gets brighter as you walk it, one faithful step at a time.
Minister A Francine Green
August 2025
afrancinegreen.com 