My teacher classes always looked forward to the baking nights I would offer in my home. Most had experience with a wok but not an oven and arrived at my home both excited and nervous. I had a simple cake recipe printed up and they chuckled at the exact quantities as well as the measuring cups and spoons on the table.

Each semester, though the cooks changed, there was a common occurrence. Some students would question the recipe and make changes.

“Our group has had the oven long enough. You guys can have a turn,” (Pulling out a half-done cake). “So much flour! It’s going to be dry,” (Cutting the amount).

One evening I gave my baking speech and the ‘rebels’ made so many changes before I could rescue them that the result was seriously less than delicious. News traveled fast and the following week the new cooks arrived a little apprehensive about their first baking endeavor.

“Obey the instructions and see how it turns out,” I said.

They did and the results were eaten in minutes.

“They should have listened to you,” one girl said quietly.

This student was unknowingly insightful with her use of ‘listen’. Obedience comes from a Hebrew word meaning “to hear.” In fact, in scripture, to hear and obey are two sides of the same coin. When we obey someone, it is a sign that we are listening to what they said and really trust them.

Comparing following a recipe to obeying God’s words may seem like a silly stretch.

But isn’t the basic principle the same? Like In Genesis when the first humans thought they knew better than the authority in the garden, their Creator?

The cake analogy has obvious limitations. Trusting me and following my recipe brought quick results. The result of obeying a sovereign and loving God may not always be so quick or clear to my human eyes but is of infinitely more value.

Jesus Himself tells me, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23).