Why Do We Follow God?

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Photo by David Monje on Unsplash

Scripture: Leviticus 26

Leviticus 26 is divided into 2 parts: Rewards for Obedience and Punishment for Disobedience. This was established by God for the Israelites whom He brought out of Egypt.

Here are my thoughts about the passage:

Why are we following God?

Why are we doing the things He has commanded us to do?

Why, even though at times difficult, do we continue to follow after God’s own heart when for us it means denying our self and our own desires?

Maybe we have our own reasons as to why we follow God.

But why are we following Him? Is it because there are rewards in store for us?

Is it because when we don’t follow Him we are going to be punished for our disobedience and rebellion?

We need to first understand the reason behind our obedience to God. Because if we only follow Him for the rewards or because we’re afraid of being punished then we are following God for the wrong reasons.

We might be following God because we want good things to happen to us. But in our Christian walk we will be experiencing bad things. And so when we are following God because of the rewards and then experience the opposite along the way then we will be shocked, disappointed even.

Don’t get me wrong, our obedience will always lead us closer to God and that does not primarily mean reaping rewards.

On the other hand, following God because we don’t want to get punished is not the best way to go about our spiritual journey. If that would be our mindset it would be a fear-based relationship where we follow God because we need to, not because we want to. This mindset paints God as merciless which isn’t the case.

So, why do we follow God?

Why do we choose to obey Him?

Because He is our Lord.

Our obedience shows God’s lordship and authority over our lives. It shows our relationship with Him.

We follow Him because we know that when we do, we are allowing God’s will to happen in our life. As believers, we know it in our hearts that God’s plan is for our benefit, it is always what’s best for us.

And so, regardless of the rewards that go along our obedience, we choose to follow God because of our relationship with Him. This would imply that our relationship with God will determine the level of our obedience. Same goes with us not wanting to be punished for our disobedience, it is because we love God and we don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit.

Our obedience should not be transactional, meaning we are in it because of the rewards or because we don’t want to get punished. It should be relational – God being our Lord and Father. Him having authority over our lives and being a loving and good father who wants only what’s best for His children.

We continue to follow God not because we’re required to but because we know that our obedience will lead us closer to Him and His will. That no matter how bad and ugly things get along the way our relationship with Him will help us to continue moving forward – walking by faith and not by sight. And in the process we glorify Him.

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