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            In speaking of challenges, remember that great victories come out of great challenges, and champions are made when challengers are defeated. To every goal one set out to achieve there are challenges to prevent one from succeeding, and the more noble the goal, the more fierce the challenge. Therefore, champions are neither made in a vacuum nor without a challenger.

            Obeying God is both the key to a deeper walk with God, and living in His blessings. “If you are willing and obedient you shall eat the fruit of the land” (Isaiah 1:19). God’s promises and blessings to us depend largely on our obedience to Him. However, there are challenges to obeying God. Pride, suffering, and the fear of death are among some of the challenges to our obedience to God.   

            In (Philippians 2:5-11), “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.

            Pride is one of the biggest challenge to obeying God. In order to obey God, the Lord Jesus had to vacate His position and standing with God, and took the place of a servant. Certainly, obeying God comes at a cost. What do you do when obeying God makes you feel belittled and stupid?

            Largely, people of means (wealth, academic achievement, social status) often wrestle with pride in their effort to obey God. Jesus was a person of means (He possessed all things) but pride could not stop Him from obeying God. Having the mind of Christ is the key to obeying God and overcoming pride regardless of your possession, achievement and social status).

            Suffering is another challenge to obeying God. When we walk in obedience to God we may suffer the loss of some comfort and convenience. In His obedience to God, Jesus suffered the death on the cross. If obeying God is our greatest delight then any suffering that comes in our effort to obey God will not deter us.

            We may suffer the loss of friends, relationship, income, respect and others in obeying God. However, lets remember that the reward of obedience is always far more greater than the loses. “But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation”(1Peter 5:10). Therefore, when your obedience is challenged by any perceived or real suffering do not give up, you may be a step away from a great victory.  

              Again, the fear of death can present a huge challenge to obeying God. In other words, when it appears that one could lose his / her life as a result of obeying God. Imagine what the three Hebrew men might have felt when their obedience to God made them candidates for the fiery furnace. One thing you should know and hold on to is that God will not set you up to fail. God honors and rewards obedience. Therefore, stand up to anything that will challenge your obedience to God.                

 

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