Obedience (as it relates to Faith and Healing)
“The meaning of the Greek word for obey (hupakouo) begins with the idea of listening attentively…A mature follower of Jesus is always alert and obedient to God's call in every moment…Faith and obedience are inseparable. Lack of one is lack of the other….Obedience is necessary for maintaining harmony…The Holy Fathers say that obedience is greater even than fasting or prayer. This is something I did not understand very well when I was younger. If we have no obedience, then our fasting is in vain.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Ephesians 6:1-4, Hebrews 4:6, Rev. Christopher H. Martin, Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica)
“…the Savior sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool's water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus' words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing.” (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese)
“Healing is a process…healing is a relationship with God…healing happens in stages…partial healing is not a true and lasting healing…our reaction to healing determines how much healing we have. When Jesus healed the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) He told them to them to go show themselves to the priests. They all did so but the Scriptures read that one of them saw that he was healed and he returned to Christ. Further, he was a Samaritan, a heretic in the eyes of the Jews. Christ then tells this man that his faith has made him well. This man realized only his body has been healed and therefore he was only partially healed. At some point he obediently returned to Christ because he knew he still needed complete healing of his whole being. It would not be surprising if the nine who did not return contracted leprosy again.” (Fr. Seraphim Holland, Sacramental Living Ministries)
“…self-denial” entails surrendering control of our entire inward and outward life to God… We understand that the Lord does not limit our surrender to the sphere of our religious activity, or to matters of personal taste and preference, or even to obedience to the basic commandments of God. His meaning is clear: if we truly desire to come after Jesus Christ (Mk 8:34), then we are to hand over control of our entire life – inward and outward, without qualification – to His guidance, come what may.” (Dynamis 9/21/2014)
“There are countless stories of the miracles and spiritual gifts associated with the simple but fundamental Christian virtue of obedience.” (Constantina R. Palmer)