LOVING OBEDIENCE

John 14:23-24 New Living Translation

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.”

       In a world where people wear ‘Jesus is my home boy’ tee shirts and huge crosses filled with bling dangling from their necks, we tend to wonder if they truly know Jesus or are just following the latest fashion trend. It seems popular to advertise the brand name rather than to live according to the statutes laid out and proclaimed by the individual linked with the name. God isn’t interested in advertising. He doesn’t need our help to proclaim in obnoxiously gaudy ways His existence through clothing or jewelry. He wants us to live for Him with our heart, mind, soul and strength. If we truly love Jesus we will obey His teachings. To not obey is to make a sham of everything He represents and truly is. Christ died so that we could live. What does that mean to us?

       Saying you believe in Jesus and actually loving him are two completely different things.  Saying you love him and obeying His teachings are also two completely different things. If you love someone you tend to want to please them. You want to spend as much time with them as possible. You want to know all you can about them. Why is it so different when it comes to God?

          To know the teachings of Jesus is to read the Bible. That seems too much like exercise to us. Some would rather learn it by osmosis, unfortunately, even in the high tech day and age that’s not possible. We are going to have to pick up the Book and actually read it. And reading it isn’t enough. We must listen to what is being said. We don’t get to pick and choose which parts we want to obey. We must obey it all. God’s patience and kindness is unprecedented. You won’t find anyone this side of heaven who can match it. His never ending, unconditional love is in play continuously. He wants us to succeed in this life and has given us the instructions to do so. We must read them. We must live by them. We must trust God to provide for and sustain us through this life. If we don’t obey the teachings of Christ, then we are not truly His. And if we are not His then by association, we are not God’s. Who ever heard of loving someone and yet ignoring what they say?  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible, published by Tyndale House.