Welcome to Waymaker Church! We are so excited to have you join us today! We exist to Encounter, Live for, and Advance the Kingdom of God!

Over the past few months, we have been in a series entitled Let’s Talk About It. In the series, we have covered a wide range of questions. So far, we have looked at the bible and thoughts on apocryphal literature, angels, fasting, when God feels absent, identity, joy, and gratitude.

This morning, we are going to look at a question about obedience. The question is simple: What does obedience look like to God?
As we begin, it is essential to grasp that obedience is much deeper than mere compliance. Why is this? The motivational element of obedience is understood as a response of genuine love, faith, and submission to God.

In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

Obedience is not burdensome rule-following but a natural outflow of a loving relationship. The journey of obedience is not about perfection, but about progressively aligning our hearts with God’s. The goal of obedience is to cultivate a love-driven relationship with Christ that transforms our daily choices.

A key principle to understand is that the word emphasizes that obedience of the heart is more valuable to God than external religious actions or rituals.

1 Samuel 15:22 “So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed (listen) than the fat of rams.”

Obedience is about devotion and the quality and intimacy of an active, two-way relationship. The aim is not simply to check religious boxes. It is to align with Him and know Him.

This means practical steps like taking time to be alone with God, finding a quiet place, meditating on the word, and listening for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.

The biblical concept of obedience, particularly in the Old Testament, is tied to the Hebrew word Shema, which means not just to "hear" but also to "listen with the intent to respond and act."

Deuteronomy 5:33 “You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.”

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

The principle of listening with intent to respond and act is an acknowledgement of God’s supreme authority. When we truly hear and obey, we are displaying submission and trust. It is not about dutiful obligation, but a loving response. We obey because we love God and know He has our best interest at heart.

Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”

Luke 6:46 ““But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

The work of sanctification in our lives by the Holy Spirit aids us in surrendering sins, releasing false beliefs, and trusting Christ. Each act of obedience produces spiritual growth.

In summary, scriptural obedience is a wholehearted, active surrender to God's will and commands, motivated by love and built on trust in His wisdom and authority.

Obedience vs. Legalism:
I shared a moment ago from 1 Samuel 15:22 which says,
1 Samuel 15:22 “So Samuel said: 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”

This verse reveals that it is possible to have religious function and be out of step in relationship. This issue is often referred to as legalism.

How does obedience differ from legalism?
Obedience and legalism represent two fundamentally different approaches to following God, distinguished primarily by motivation and heart attitude.

Grace-based Christians obey out of delight, while law-based Christians obey out of duty. When obedience becomes merely dutiful, it can lead to resentment rather than joy.

The Core Difference:
Legalism: Performance Based.

Motive: Trying to earn or merit God's favor, love, acceptance, or salvation. Fueled by self-effort, duty, or fear.

Source of Righteousness: Self-righteousness; one's own performance of rules, laws, or traditions. "Christ plus my works."

Focus: Outward actions, checklists, human traditions, and judging others based on external compliance.

Effect on the Heart: Pride, spiritual arrogance, a sense of having "earned" approval, and condemnation of others.

Legalism focuses on the letter of the law while missing the spirit of the law because the motivation is to appear righteous to others or satisfy a sense of duty, not genuine love for God.

Matthew 23:25–28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

In legalism, rules are a ladder to climb to God.

Biblical Obedience:
Motive: A grateful response to God's already-given grace, love, and salvation. Fueled by love for God and enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Source of Righteousness: The righteousness of Jesus Christ, received by faith alone. "Christ alone."

Focus: Inward heart transformation (love, humility, faith) and following God's commands as an expression of a loving relationship.

Effect on the Heart: Humility, joy, peace, gratitude, and a desire to serve and love others.

Biblical obedience is the natural, visible, and necessary result of a life transformed by God’s grace. We obey because we are saved, not in order to be saved.

Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

In true obedience, rules are a road to walk with God.

The difference is a matter of the heart's motive. Legalism says, "I obey to be accepted." Obedience says, "I obey because I am accepted."

In closing, we have found that the answer to "What does obedience look like to God?" is simple yet profound: it looks like love.

Biblical obedience is not a heavy burden of compliance, nor is it the proud, self-serving effort of legalism—trying to earn what has already been freely given.

Instead, true obedience is a grateful response and the natural outflow of a transformed heart (Ephesians 2:8-10).

It is the Shema principle—hearing God's voice with the deep intent to act upon it, motivated by a loving desire to align our will with His.

As we choose daily to follow the road of Christ-centered obedience, may our lives increasingly reflect the humility, joy, and peace of those who obey, not out of duty, but because we are loved, we are accepted, and we love Him in return.