Obedience to God is the first duty of the Christian.—Testimonies for the Church 4:610.
The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely—because he is required to do so—will never enter into the joy of obedience. He does not obey. When the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that the life is not a Christian life. True obedience is the outworking of a principle within. It springs from the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right,—because right-doing is pleasing to God.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 97.
Christ lays loving claims on all for whom He has given His life: they are to obey His will if they would share the joys that He has prepared for all who reflect His character here.—Testimonies for the Church 9:284.
Of Christ it is written, “In Him was life: and the life was the light of men.” He is the fountain of life. Obedience to Him is the life-giving power that gladdens the soul.—Testimonies for the Church 8:288. RRe 324
In this life we can only begin to understand the wonderful theme of redemption. With our finite comprehension we may consider most earnestly the shame and the glory, the life and the death, the justice and the mercy, that meet in the cross; yet with the utmost stretch of our mental powers we fail to grasp its full significance. The length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of redeeming love are but dimly comprehended. The plan of redemption will not be fully understood, even when the ransomed see as they are seen and know as they are known; but through the eternal ages new truth will continually unfold to the wondering and delighted mind. Though the griefs and pains and temptations of earth are ended and the cause removed, the people of God will ever have a distinct, intelligent knowledge of what their salvation has cost. Hvn 156
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18. KJV