Embracing Friendship with God: Thru Intentional Obedience and The Holy Spirit's Guidance

Scriptures:

“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3, NIV)

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3, NIV)

“You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.” (James 2:22-23, NIV)

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth…” (John 16:13, NIV)

In this journey of intentional obedience, the role of the Holy Spirit is crucial. The scriptures teach us that obedience is how we demonstrate our love for God and align ourselves with His will. However, it is the Holy Spirit who guides and empowers us to live out this obedience.

In John 16:13, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, will guide us into all truth. This means that as we seek to intentionally obey God, we don’t do it in our own strength. Instead, the Holy Spirit leads us, revealing God’s will and giving us the wisdom and strength to walk in His commands.

Just as Abraham’s faith was made complete through his actions (James 2:22-23), our obedience is also made possible by responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit convicts, encourages, and provides the insight we need to navigate daily life in alignment with God’s desires.

In Amos 3:3, the importance of walking in agreement with God is emphasized, and this is where the Holy Spirit plays a vital role. He helps us stay in step with God’s purposes, ensuring that our obedience is intentional, Spirit-led, and aligned with the Father’s heart.

Intentional obedience isn’t burdensome (1 John 5:3) because the Holy Spirit empowers us to fulfill God’s commands with joy, guiding us every step of the way. This partnership with the Holy Spirit deepens our friendship with God as we grow in both love and obedience.