In John 7:17, Jesus tells us that if we are willing to do God’s will, we will come to understand His doctrine.
This verse shows us that obedience is key to gaining spiritual insight. It is not simply intellectual knowledge that opens our eyes to God’s truth, but rather a heart that is ready to follow Him. Sometimes, God asks us to obey first and understand later.
Obedience as a Foundation
Jesus makes it clear that a heart set on doing God’s will is going to grasp the depth of His teachings.
Think of it like a foundation: before we can build understanding, we need to lay the groundwork of obedience.
This kind of obedience is not just about following rules; it’s about trusting God enough to take Him at His word, even when we don’t have all the answers.
When we are willing to act according to God’s will, we show that we trust Him. And it’s this trust that opens the door to a deeper understanding of His ways.
The Bible gives us many examples of this truth.
Take Abraham, for instance.
In Genesis 12:1-4, God told Abraham to leave his homeland and go to a land that He would show him. At that moment, Abraham didn’t have all the details. He didn’t know where he was going or how everything would turn out. Yet, he obeyed. Because of his willingness to act in faith, God later revealed more of His promises to Abraham. His understanding grew because he first chose to obey.
Obedience as a Step of Faith
Often, God requires us to take a step of faith. When we decide to obey Him without needing all the answers, it demonstrates our trust in Him. This kind of faith opens our hearts and minds to understand more of His truth. Think of it this way: if we only obey when we fully understand, then we are putting our reasoning above God’s wisdom. But when we choose to follow God’s will, even when it doesn’t make sense, we show that we value His direction over our own understanding.
For us today, this means that we should be willing to act on God’s commands, even when we don’t fully grasp the “why.” Maybe God is asking us to forgive someone who has wronged us, serve in a ministry that challenges us, or give generously. If we wait until we fully understand everything, we may never take that step.
However, when we act in faith and obey, God often reveals more to us along the way. Our obedience becomes a pathway to greater knowledge and spiritual growth.
A sincere willingness to obey God is key to unlocking deeper spiritual truths. Understanding comes to those who are committed to following God’s will, not just to those who seek knowledge for knowledge’s sake. It’s a matter of the heart.
God promises that when we are willing to obey, He will give us the discernment we need to understand His teachings. So, the next time you are faced with a choice to follow God’s will, remember that obedience may be the very step that opens your eyes to His truth. Trust Him, take that step of faith, and you will find that understanding often follows obedience.
