"Lord, Lord" versus "Yes, Lord"

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"Lord, Lord" vs. "Yes, Lord": The Difference That Saves.




Is Your Faith Living or Dead? A Look at Belief vs. Obedience

I’ve been wrestling with a question that, honestly, makes me a little uncomfortable. It’s this: What is the real difference between saying “I believe in God” and saying “I obey God”?

For a long time, I think I unconsciously assumed that “believing” was the main part. As long as I had the right ideas in my head—God exists, Jesus is His Son, the Church is His—I was on the right team.

Then I was reminded of one of the most chilling verses in the entire New Testament, from the Apostle James:

"You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder!" (James 2:19)

That verse just stops you in your tracks, doesn't it?

The demons have perfect theology. They know exactly who God is. They know Christ is Lord. Their intellectual "belief" is flawless. But it does them no good, because their wills are set in eternal opposition to Him.

It forced me to ask a hard question: If my faith consists only of things I know in my head, how different is it, really, from the faith of a demon?

This is where I’ve realized the profound gap between belief and obedience.

Belief is an Act of the Intellect. Obedience is an Act of the Will.

Believing in God is agreeing to a set of facts. It’s the starting line, the necessary foundation.

Obeying God is what happens when that belief moves from your head to your heart, and then down to your hands and feet. It’s the free surrender of your will to His. It's what St. Paul calls the "obedience of faith" (Romans 1:5)—a faith that doesn't just know, but listens and acts.

The Bible is filled with stories of people who had one but not the other, and the consequences are stark.

Case Study in Failure: King Saul

If you asked King Saul if he "believed" in God, he would have been insulted. He was the anointed king! He offered sacrifices and consulted prophets.

But when God gave him a direct, non-negotiable command through the prophet Samuel—to utterly destroy the Amalekites—Saul had a better idea. He disobeyed. He spared the enemy king and kept the best livestock.

His excuse? It was a "religious" one. He kept the animals "to sacrifice to the LORD" (1 Samuel 15:21).

He believed in God enough to want to worship Him, but he didn't obey Him. Samuel's reply is terrifying:

"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice... Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king." (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

Saul's "belief" was rendered worthless by his disobedience. The consequence was the loss of his kingdom and, ultimately, his soul.

Case Study in Success: Abraham

Now, contrast Saul with Abraham, our "father in faith." Abraham's faith was never just a passive thought.

  • God says, "Go from your country." Abraham packs his bags and goes, not even knowing his destination (Hebrews 11:8).
  • God promises a son to a 100-year-old man. Abraham believes.

The ultimate test came with the command to sacrifice Isaac—the very son God had promised. This command was an assault on logic, on promise, and on a father's love. A man of "belief only" would have argued, rationalized, or, like Saul, disobeyed.

But Abraham's faith was an obedient faith. He got up early, saddled his donkey, and did what God commanded, trusting God's will above his own understanding.

The result wasn't loss, but blessing. God stopped him, saying, "because you have obeyed my voice, in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 22:18).

What Jesus Said

Jesus Himself makes obedience the very definition of a living, loving faith. He constantly closes the gap between knowing and doing.

He doesn't say, "If you have correct theological opinions about me, you are my friends." He says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

The most frightening words He speaks are aimed directly at those who believe but do not obey:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

"Lord, Lord" is the cry of belief. "Doing the will of my Father" is the action of obedience.

This whole reflection has left me with this final thought:

"I believe in God" is a statement about reality. "I obey God" is a statement about Lordship.

Many people can acknowledge the fact. Only a true disciple can bow to the King. It’s a daily challenge to ask myself: Am I just a believer, or am I a follower? Is my faith a dead statistic in my head, or is it the living, breathing, obedient force of my life?

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