Obedience

When I was a kid I always resisted authority. Does every kid resist authority? I don't remember having a lot of rules except that we had to clean the house before mom got home from work. I made the rules growing up and as a result I did not like those who were put in authority. Either I deeply wanted their approval and when I did not get it, I would raise my fist to the rules. Because I continued to rebel and not obey. I would cause havoc and discourse for myself and all involved.
When I became a christian Christian God broke through to my rebellious heart and gave me a new heart. As a follower of Jesus you want to obey because it brings about a freedom that you can't explain. My heart at many times has turned hard and my disobedience brought about bondage but God is rich in his pursuit. It's like an arm wrestling match you have no chance to win. He always leads us to to obey because He can be trusted. Maybe as a kid I felt I had no place to trust. I want God to be pleased with me. I want him to say good and faithful servant but the fact is that on my best days I utterly fail at obedience to the Lord.
There is one who obeyed His whole life. He never rebelled against His Father because His Father was trustworthy. I can fall on Him the perfect child, son, friend......Jesus!
Jesus is the one I can look at and say because you obeyed, the Father loves me and is completely pleased with me. I can relax and trust. God's word says to repent and believe the gospel. He calls me to do this daily and the hardest part of all it is to believe. I see my sin and it is so gross and I am so ashamed when I see my heart and how it causes other people pain. My call to obedience is to believe what Jesus did is true and fall upon Him and receive the freedom I first experienced when I met him years ago.