Obeying God's Will – Gateway to Security

A simple but devout minister in the Ozarks was once challenged by an agnostic tourist, “You say that we should strive to obey God in every way, without question,” scoffed the agnostic. “if God asked you to jump through a brick wall, would you do it?’

“Well,” drawled the woodlander, “It would be up to me to throw myself at the way – but it would be up to God to throw me THROUGH it.”

In a facetious way, that minister’s response reflects an obediential mentality that Paul calls “obedience that comes from faith” (Rom 1:5). It is a faith-engendered response to the “active” aspect of God’s will, called his “signified” will. It involves the intent to do whatever God wants one to do, without question or hesitance. This “active” obedience is the counterpoint to the more “passive” response of holy abandonment or surrender to that aspect of God’s will called his “good-pleasure” will. Such surrender involves accepting whatever happens in one’s life – that is, whatever is caused or permitted by his loving and wise providence – as part of God’s “good pleasure.” Responding to both the “signified” and the “good-pleasure” will of God is a grace of the Lord, who is often alluded to in this context as the God of peace. “May the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will [signified will of God] and work in us what is pleasing to him [the good-pleasure will of God]” (Heb 13:21).

Here we will consider only one aspect of conformity to God’s will: obedience to his signified will, whether manifested indirectly through a divinely chosen representative or directly through personal guidance from the Lord. Those who exercise the “obedience that comes from faith” in response to God’s signified will, enjoy many spiritual advantages. One such benefit, which I will explore briefly in upcoming articles, is spiritual security and the peace that accompanies it.        

This excerpt is from the book The Art of Loving God by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications, 1995. This and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.