The Choice to Obey--by Linden Malki

From the very beginning, God has made demands on His people. The very first example, of course, was in Eden, where there was just one commandment, and the reason behind it was for Adam and Eve to recognize and respect the authority of God to make the commandment. It was always tempered with love, which underlies the relationship.

We see everytime God establishes a relationship with people, there is a command. Cain and Abel are asked to bring an offering of their produce; Noah was asked to build a boat. God spent two thousand years explaining what He wanted of His people--to love them and teach them the best way to live.

Jesus' basic call was for followers. Think what it means to "follow" someone! It means keeping them in sight, and going where they go and doing what they do. The only time you can follow someone who is not in your line of sight is when you know where they are going and what they are doing. That was what Jesus was teaching! As St Paul once said, "Follow me, as I follow Christ." Can we actually say that to anyone? It's not as if we are expected to follow randomly, but we are given guidelines and instructions which will keep us on the path. It's not always easy! He never said it would be easy, just that it would be right, and maintain the relationship with the God who love us. Love and obedience are choices that we make, deliberately or by default. There are those who do quarrel with our obedience to God, but often it is that it shows the difference between their choices and ours. When we know the love of God, and love Him in return, it makes our choices more clear. Not perfect, because like everyone who has gone before us, we can't do it without knowledge of Him, the strength He makes available, His forgiveness when we get off track, and His love.