“If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15
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. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. John 14:23-24
but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave. John 14:31
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 1 John 2:3-5
What do these verses say? What do they teach us?
Following Jesus is to love God. It is getting to know who God is. By doing this, we will have a desire to obey Him. Following Jesus is impossible if we don’t obey. Obedience to God is an outward way of showing that we love Him. Yes, we may fail to obey, but our characteristic of a true follower of Christ is to obey.
Jesus lived in complete obedience to God. As Jesus lives in us, it will look the same. We don’t obey God for the things we will get. We obey because we love him. Obeying God doesn’t earn His love for us. It is the evidence of our love for Him. Jesus promised in John 14: 21, 23, that he will reveal himself to us through our obedience. When Jesus reveals Himself to us in response to our obedience, we will have a deeper love for him.
Do you have a hard time obeying out of love or duty? Is there a difference between the two? Which describes your obedience? Have you learned anything new about God through obeying Him? Is there an area that you are not obeying God? Do you need to seek forgiveness?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Jesus and His example of how he obeys you. I pray that we will take time to seek our hearts for any disobedience that we have. I pray that we will ask for forgiveness and desire to obey you out of love for you.
In Jesus Name
Amen
