John 14:23 “Jesus replied, ‘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.’”
Saying you ‘know’ Jesus isn’t the same as loving him and ‘loving’ him isn’t the same as obeying him. Just as faith should lead to trust, ‘knowing’ should lead to loving which should lead to ‘obeying’ the Lord. His standard for living is clearly mapped out in scripture, but to live it you must read it and know it. How can you live it if you don’t read and know it? Saying you don’t understand it to read it is no excuse, because if you ask, the Holy Spirit will enable you to understand what the Bible is saying.
John MacArthur* has a clear and insightful statement regarding loving and obeying God: “true saving faith is manifest by works produced by God in the transforming, regenerating power of the Spirit. Those works are expressions of the love which the Spirit pours into the believer’s heart.” [1] In other words, living God’s word produces faith-works by the Holy Spirit within you. Your obedience is what causes you to deepen your relationship with him. Your obedience is to be a habitual practice as evidenced by our love for Christ and the Father.
“Obedience is not, however, the condition of God's love for humans but the proof of their realization of his love and of their love for him.” [2] Not only can nothing separate us from the love of God, but there are no conditions placed upon that love. [Romans 8:38-39] It is in loving God that we obey him thus allowing us to realize our ultimate goal, which is eternity with him in heaven. God is just, fair, and merciful so I do not know what becomes of those who choose not to know him deeper or obey his word. That is above me and left in God’s hands. He is the judge, not any of us. I suppose the question then would be, why wouldn’t someone who said they loved God NOT at least attempt to know and obey his word? It’s a mystery to me. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resources: www.biblegateway.com;
[1] John MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition.
[2] Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament
* John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and president of The Master's College & Seminary.
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