Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV)

COUNCIL FOR THE RESTORATION OF FILIPINO VALUES (CRFV)

Civil Service Commission Accredited Learning and Development Institute

"We believe that the values of Love of God, Stewardship of Resources, Sanctity of Marriage, Truthfulness, Selfless Love, Respect for Authority, need to be enhanced among the government officials and employees to enable them to have the moral strength to resist the temptations of corruption by living Godly lives."

WEEKLY VALUE FOCUS

OBEDIENCE

But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.[1]

Obedience is doing what you’re instructed to do[2]. We are commanded to be obedient to God in every way, which makes sense if we really believe that he knows what is best for us. Obedience is an ingredient of our faith because it shows we are convinced that God can teach and protect us – no matter what circumstances he might want us to encounter.

Jonah learned about obedience the hard way. When God gave him a job to do, he sailed the other direction as quickly as possible. However, Jonah soon learned that no matter how bad he thought it might be to obey God, disobedience was even worse.

As you read through Jonah, notice the consequences of disobedience to God as well as the unexpected surprises that await if you choose to obey. Try to remember what happened to Jonah the next time you’re tempted to disobey someone’s valid instructions.

Can you think of any recent examples, where disobedience caused you problems? Can you recall anytime when your obedience prevented trouble?

[1] 1 Samuel 15:22
[2] Jonah 1

ACTION PLAN

Think of a situation in which your parents or authorities over you tells you to get out of. It can be a bad company, an illegal activity, an extramarital affair, a harmful vice, or even a dangerous avocation. Decide to obey.

DECLARATION

I am an obedient person. I recognize the necessity to obey those I know are concerned about my welfare. From this day forth, I shall not be lax, but conscientious in obeying them. I shall obey the Lord and trust that He knows where He is leading me. I shall demonstrate obedience among my friends, peers, and colleagues in order to inspire them to obey righteous orders.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, teach me to obey you. Give me the grace to also obey my parents and those whom you have placed as authorities over my life. I am confident that you know where you are leading me, and you hold my future in your hands. Let me not postpone my obedience, but be quick to follow and obey you at your Word. Amen.

SUPPLEMENTARY INPUT

“Yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42 NIV

How many of us can say the famous line “Yet not my will but yours be done?” It is easier to obey if the choice set before us is what our heart desires, but it takes death to fleshly desires to say, “Lord, have your way. I surrender.”

Obedience is a key to unlock God’s favor and grace. Just like a parent delighted with his/her obedient child and buys him things or gives him privileges, God delights in our obedience. As a result, his favor flows to us. With it comes grace to act according to what was instructed for us to do. Look at the life of Abraham, the father of faith. When God asked him to offer his son, Isaac, his heart was torn to pieces. How can a father burn his son as a sacrifice? Abraham did not understand why God asked him to do so, yet he resolved in his heart to obey God’s instruction. With his decision to obey came the grace to do what was asked of him. In the end, Abraham found favor in the eyes of God as he did not withhold even his only son from Him. Thus, God provided for a sacrifice instead of Isaac.

Explicit obedience has the power to protect and spare us from unnecessary problems brought about by disobedience. Basic is the fact that disobedience to simple rules brings punishment and unnecessary consequences that could have been avoided in the first place. Explicit obedience gives us the power to live clean lives and not face the consequences of our disobedience. It allows us to avoid unnecessary drama over simple affairs in life. If people would just learn to obey explicitly without question, then life would be easier. There would be no need of penal laws to punish those who do not follow the law. There would be no administrative sanctions and punishments.

Remember Adam and Eve? Explicit obedience could have spared humanity from living a difficult life. However, their disobedience led to the punishment of the entire human race. In our case, our disobedience may not cause the punishment of humanity, but it could cause the destruction of the future generations we represent. It could destroy the future of our children and cause them to live with stigma. Remember people with bad reputation? Their children suffer the consequences of their ancestor’s wrongdoing. Their ancestor’s disobedience tainted their name and dignity. As they grow up, they carry that bad reputation, too.

Obedience, explicit or not, may at times be difficult, but it is better than to suffer the consequences of sin brought about by disobedience. Thus, let’s assess our obedience to God, to the laws of the land, to authorities set over us, be it in the workplace, family or organization we belong to. Before disobeying, let’s consider the consequences not just to ourselves but to the nation, generation and family we represent. By our obedience, what kind of dignity would we leave to the nation, generation and family we represent?

CRFV Highlights

We are part of a generation of "BREED WITHOUT GREED". A radical opposition to corruption; Godly seeds in the Land who have chosen to make a difference; standing up against all forms of wickedness and winning by righteousness!

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CRFV was recently appointed as the implementing Civil Society Organization of the Values Restoration Program (Civil Service Commission Announcement No. 40 s. 2013) empowering the organization to deliver its advocacy to all Constitutional Bodies, Departments, Bureaus and National Government Agencies (NGAs); Local Government Units (LGUs); Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) with original charters; and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

There is a nationwide launching and discussion of a common value each week.

The Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV) is a non-government organization (NGO) dedicated to the effort in transforming the Filipino public servant and the local government leadership to subscribe to the Code of Ethics and Values that shall provide our nation, the Philippines, with righteous, incorruptible, and sincere service towards a graft free society through the help and guidance of the word of GOD consistent to the exemplary life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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