"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were
yours in your ignorance." 1 Peter 1:14

In one of the definitions of obedience in "Vine's, Expository Dictionary" we
find this statement--
"Faith is of the heart, invisible to men; obedience is of the conduct and
may be observed. When a man obeys God he gives the only possible evidence
that in his heart he believes God."

As mentioned in previous messages, we are to be the expression of Christ
here and now;
"Let your light shine before me in such a way that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16
And,
"Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which he
suffered." Hebrews 5:8. Now join this together with 1 John 4:17b,
"...As He is, so also are we in this world."

Here are some elements to learning obedience:
The key element is trust and trust is founded in our faith in God.
"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God
must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
Hebrews 11:6
Therefore, to be obedient we must trust God:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Waiting on the Lord is another element of obedience:
How often do we think that God is too slow and we are so tempted to move out
in our own understanding? But we have the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us
into the way God wants us to go. God gives us the strength to do what He
asks:
"But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength..." Isaiah 40:31

Meditating in the Word is another element of obedience:
If we are to know God's mind we must meditate on His word. Not just a quick
reading or here a verse and there a verse, but delving deeply and asking the
Holy Spirit to open it up. It was Jesus who said,
"Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened to you.
"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who
knocks it shall be opened." Matthews 7:7-8

Obedience requires listening:
We must take time away from the din of our busy day to be quiet before the
Lord so that we can learn to sense the prompting of the Holy Spirit. As we
study the Word He is the one who illuminates it so we know what the Lord is
saying to us.
"Be still and know that I am God..." Psalms 46:10

To walk is an element of obedience:
Sometimes we are led to walk in a direction that is opposite of where we
'think'we should go, but here is where trusting, waiting, meditating and
listening is vital. That is why we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, our
guide!  Look at the example we have in Abraham,
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he
would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing
where he was going." Hebrews 11:8

As obedient children we come to know; 'with obedience there is peace'
and the opposite is also true -- 'no obedience, no peace'. How could there
be? It is the ever faithful Holy Spirit who convicts and draws us to
repentance. How very thankful we are! Praise God for His perfect plan for
each of us! Amen