Modern Challenges to True Devotion
In response to your question, two main directions can be identified that complicate adherence to God’s command to be obedient in our time.Firstly, in modern society there is often a tendency to please people instead of showing sincere reverence for God. As noted in one of the sources:"They thought that if they joined the Church of God, then gossip would spread, and the Jews, for the most part, hated Christ and hated the budding Church.
Similarly, many among us believe in God and acknowledge Him but are afraid to attend church: it seems there is never time, and what will people think?In other words, what people say about him is more important than what the Church has to say. A person does not fear displeasing God but fears not pleasing people, and thus, pleasing people replaces true godliness." (source: link txt)This clearly reflects the modern pressure of public opinion: people worry about what others might think, which leads to a rejection of genuine spiritual obedience and the reluctance to participate regularly in the life of the Church.Secondly, another significant problem is the influence of material and emotional temptations in the modern world. People are increasingly susceptible to seductions such as pride, greed, luxury, laziness, and an obsession with worldly passions. This is highlighted in the text:"Some are arrogant with pride, others blinded by greed, yet others defeated by luxury, some drowning in laziness, and others obsessed with various passions; yet in the house of God, only a few gather to pray and hear the word of God! God determined that man should work for six days to meet his own needs, and during these six days, God, like manna, sent an abundance and happiness in our labors. And the seventh day, that is, Sunday, is sanctified for service to God Himself..." (source: link txt)This quotation emphasizes that the modern person often prefers to pursue worldly pleasures and satisfy personal interests, neglecting sacred time and refusing to give proper attention to serving God.Thus, the contemporary challenges hindering the observance of God's command to be obedient are connected both to the dependency on public opinion and the desire for the approval of others, as well as to the influence of material and emotional temptations that lead to a neglect of spiritual duties.