Doing what He tells us to do for any other reason is not. It is performance-based, operating in the flesh, etc.
The key is knowing why we act and not just how we act or what we do (e.g. praying in itself isn't necessarily a righteous act. We can pray to impress others and not out of a desire to honor God and advance His purposes. Mat 6:1;5).
And why do we act... when are our actions legit? Always and only when done out of love for and trust in God so we would honor Him i.e. give him glory.
1. Sometimes we obey God out of loving affections for God
2. Sometimes out of faith alone.
As long as we do so for his honor and glory and not to secure our own honor, we are to pursue him in faithful and loving obedience.
We can never wait for feelings/affections or use lack of them as an excuse to not pursue him in faithful obedience.
If we are to grow and experience more and more of the beauty, majesty, love and glory of God, obedience is not optional. It is the means by which our faith is exercised and we draw near to God.
NOTE: I did not say obedience is the means by which God draws near to us. We are exhorted to draw near to God, not the other way around. God being near to us is already set because of Christ's work on our behalf. God is 100% with us and committed to us if we are in Christ. Nothing we can do or not do will change this one iota. "It is finished" to use Christ's words. This is never determined by our work...ever!
The beauty however is God in his grace and kindness will often grant affections toward Him once we step out in faith for the right reason.
We obey so we can better honor and glorify God and be the most effective for Him in doing so.
Obedience, submission, trust. aren't about winning God's love, they're evidence of ours.
Obedience, submission, trust. aren't about winning God's love, they're evidence of ours.
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What about "waiting on the Lord?"
We only wait when it is not clear what Gods will is in a given circumstance. But when it is clear (e.g. his commandments), we act and don't look back.
