The Unchanging God Who Calls Us to Obey
Verses:1 Kings 14:8-9
“I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like My servant David, who kept My commands and followed Me with all his heart, doing only what was right in My eyes. You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have aroused My anger and turned your back on Me.”
In a world of shifting values and fleeting priorities, God’s expectations remain fixed, unwavering, and clear. The story of Jeroboam, Israel’s rebellious king, reveals a sobering truth: God does not lower His standards to accommodate our disobedience. When the prophet Ahijah declared the impending death of Jeroboam’s son, it was not a capricious act of judgment but the consequence of Jeroboam’s persistent idolatry and refusal to repent. God’s message to him was direct: “You have turned your back on Me” (v.9). Yet even in this harsh rebuke, grace lingered—a chance to turn back, to realign with the God who never changes.
Scripture consistently shows that God’s conversation with humanity centers on one unchanging theme: return to Me. From Adam in the garden to the Pharisees in the temple, His call is the same. He does not grow weary of repeating it, nor does He adjust His requirements to suit our compromises. Jeroboam could have repented. So can we. But too often, like him, we cling to our idols—the “new gods” of self-reliance, distraction, or empty religion—while ignoring the simplicity of what God asks: Trust. Obey. Follow Me with all your heart.
Modern Christianity often drowns in activity—programs, debates, and endless theological speculations—while neglecting the core of faith: knowing God and obeying Him. We dissect doctrines but disregard His commands; we chase spiritual experiences but avoid the daily surrender He requires. God is not interested in our “foggy guesses” about His nature or our elaborate rituals. He desires raw, steadfast obedience—the kind that marked David’s heart, imperfect yet wholly devoted. Systems of knowledge, ministries, and even church life become vanity if they are not rooted in loving Him through obedience.
God’s will is not a mystery to decode. It is written plainly in His Word: “Love the Lord your God…walk in obedience to Him” (Deuteronomy 30:16). He does not hide His expectations behind parables or vague principles. Like Ahijah’s blunt prophecy, God speaks to the point. He calls us to lay down our idols, turn from sin, and walk in the freedom of surrender. The stakes are eternal. Just as Jeroboam’s rebellion brought devastation, our disobedience fractures our relationship with God. Yet His offer stands: Return. Obey. Live.
Today, hear His unchanging call. Strip away the distractions. Let go of the “old lady tales” and human traditions that cloud His clarity. Fix your eyes on the God who says, “I am the Lord, I do not change”(Malachi 3:6). His expectation is singular, His grace sufficient: Love Him by obeying Him. Everything else is secondary.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for complicating what You’ve made simple. Forgive my wandering heart, my idols, my excuses. Strip away every distraction that keeps me from wholehearted obedience. Help me to trust You deeply, follow You faithfully, and love You above all else. Align my desires with Your unchanging will. Let my life echo David’s devotion—imperfect, yet fully Yours. Amen.