Sarah’s boyfriend, Mark, handed her a beautifully wrapped box adorned with shimmering paper and a satin bow. She had eagerly anticipated this moment, dreaming of a proposal and the engagement ring that may lie inside. Excitedly, she untied the bow and thoroughly peeled away the wrapping paper, imagining all the gorgeous possibilities. As she lifted the lid, her heart sank. The box was empty. Sarah’s eyes stuffed with tears as she looked up, confusion and disappointment etched on her face. The emptiness of the box felt like a betrayal of her expectations, and the beautifully wrapped exterior now gave the impression of a cruel illusion.
Mark quickly realized his mistake—the engagement ring, safely tucked away in a smaller box, had been by chance left in his jacket pocket amidst the joy of the moment. But Sarah’s moment of devastation reminded him that the presentation, irrespective of how beautiful, means nothing without the substance inside.
Authentic faith is rooted in loving God through obediently following His commands. Keeping His commands results in a life stuffed with God’s favor and blessings. Jesus said,
“If you’re keen on me, keep my commands.” John 14:15
Without real obedience, even essentially the most sincere words and pious actions are hole, very similar to a beautifully wrapped gift box that’s empty inside. This is why real obedience, not only its appearance, is crucial in our faith journey.
As Oswald Chambers said, “Obedience is the important thing to all the pieces. It’s not concerning the outward act however the inward attitude that aligns with God’s will.” This inward alignment, this deep understanding and acceptance of God’s will, is what truly makes obedience powerful and transformative.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Kriangsak Koopattanakij
