How Obedience Relates to Love
November 1st, 2007 by Janis
How Obedience Relates to Love
READ | John 14:21-24
21“(A)He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and (B)he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will (C)disclose Myself to him.”
22(D)Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened (E)that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”
23Jesus answered and said to him, “(F)If anyone loves Me, he will (G)keep My word; and (H)My Father will love him, and We (I)will come to him and make Our abode with him.
24“He who does not love Me (J)does not keep My words; and (K)the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
The night before Jesus’ crucifixion, He reminded His disciples of the important connection between love and obedience. In John 14:21, Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.” In God’s mind, loving and obeying Him are inseparable. We need to think the same way.
What commands are we called to obey? Jesus said that the Law and the Prophets depend on two commandments: First, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Second, He commanded, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37, 39 NIV). When we consistently and thoughtfully study the New Testament, the Holy Spirit reveals how to live out these commands. Every time we follow the Spirit’s instructions, we are saying “I love You” to God. When we release a selfish attitude and place someone else first, when we show forgiveness instead of anger, or when we demonstrate a thankful heart in the midst of difficult circumstances, we ex press affection for the Lord. But if we live in conscious, deliberate disobedience to Him, Jesus says we don’t love Him.
Jesus’ life on earth was one continuous expression of love for the heavenly Father (John 14:31). Following Christ’s example requires a heart that desires to please Him, an obedient will, and a mind that consistently seeks divine direction. Develop the habit of asking yourself two questions: First, What does obedience to God look like in this situation? And, second, What additional steps can I take to obey God more fully?
Posted in God's Word |