Do you love Jesus? And how do you know? Love. It is a word that we often throw around flippantly. But do we understand the weight of what we confess? Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commands” (John 14:15).
Read Me Next! – Follower Of Jesus
Obedience Is An Act Of Love
As a child, I revered my parents. I still do. I never wanted to do anything that dishonored or disappointed them. That doesn’t mean I didn’t. I definitely did. But it always pained me to do so. I wanted to be obedient and not simply for the sake of avoiding punishment, but because I love them. I wanted to show my respect for them through my actions.
When it comes to our relationship with Jesus, are we truly following Him? God desires a heart that delights in obeying Him more than the works of sacrifice. Does your heart delight in Him? Do you honor and revere Him? And not because of what He can do for you or how He can use you. But do you delight in Him because of who He is, because He is God? Do you love Him for Him? Because obedience is an act of love.
If You Love Him, Examine Your Heart
In our day-to-day relationships, we rarely take each other’s “word for it.” No, we expect to see a follow-through. And yet we often neglect this commitment in our relationship with God. We confess that He is Lord and yet we love what He hates and hates what He loves. We do not resist temptation and run from sin. Instead, we run towards it. The truth is, we’re often stuck in a pattern of sin and rebellion because we want it more than we want Him. It’s time for us to examine our hearts. Do we really believe what we confess on a Sunday morning, what we post on social media, what we sing during a worship service? Do our hearts really adore Him? Remember, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commands.”
Scripture To Meditate On
“Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. ”
“If you love me, you will keep my commands. ”
“The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”
With Love,
Tamara
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References:
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
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