Trust or Treason

Pursuing obedience to God is of paramount importance in our Christian journey. It is Godliness in practice. It is faith in exercise. Pursuing obedience can however be warped in our corrupt nature by working instead of trusting. We must pursue obedience by faith (trusting) and not by works (our efforts). There is the other side of danger to this, if misunderstood. It doesn't however mean that we do not work, as in exercise our faith muscles, disciplining ourselves for the purpose of godliness. Trusting without exercising amounts to nothing. It'd be a misunderstanding to think that we could simply sit around and not do anything, and ... Voila! obedience! That's a thorough misunderstanding! Trusting God for the provision of his grace as we exercise our discipline, we would eventually reap obedience that results in righteousness.

Never even think that we could earn obedience. Nothing in the first place belongs to us, not even obedience. Earning simply means giving something to get another.

"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."
~ Romans 11:35-36 (NIV)

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."
~ 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."
~ Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

There can only be 2 things with regards to our obedience to God, Trust or Treason.