“If you love Me, keep My commandments. (John 14:15, NKJV).
Radical Obedience
There is a beautiful equation in John 14 and 15, and it explains why a thousand years before the prophet Samuel said to Saul, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…" (1Sa 15:22). On the other side of the equals sign is this:
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:10, NKJV).
Here's the crux: obeying Jesus is the hallmark of loving Him.
"He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him." (1 John 2:4, 5, NKJV).
Obedience entails keeping His word, which in turn means "observing, holding fast, attending to and complying." You can't just agree with what He says, you must DO what He says.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. (James 1:23, 24, NKJV).
The reward for this obedience is abiding in love with all three Persons of the godhead. The judgment for NOT complying is a breaking of fellowship with Him, and the attendant trials that result.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17, NKJV).
Radical Obedience
There is a beautiful equation in John 14 and 15, and it explains why a thousand years before the prophet Samuel said to Saul, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…" (1Sa 15:22). On the other side of the equals sign is this:
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:10, NKJV).
Here's the crux: obeying Jesus is the hallmark of loving Him.
"He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him." (1 John 2:4, 5, NKJV).
Obedience entails keeping His word, which in turn means "observing, holding fast, attending to and complying." You can't just agree with what He says, you must DO what He says.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. (James 1:23, 24, NKJV).
The reward for this obedience is abiding in love with all three Persons of the godhead. The judgment for NOT complying is a breaking of fellowship with Him, and the attendant trials that result.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17, NKJV).
And…
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (John 14:23, NKJV).
All beautiful and uplifting so far, yes? Of course. We sing chorus after chorus proclaiming our love for Jesus. We meditate on verses which declare His glory and love for us. We walk in assurance of His everlasting love and kindness, and then if you're even remotely like me, we turn around and DISOBEY. To be sure, He loves us. But if we are not following this simple equation, how exactly are we really loving Him?
You know the world's view of Christians runs the gamut from us being a hypnotized army of automatons operating in lock step with some imagined mythical sky god, or hypocrites saying one thing and doing another. What we really should be, regardless of how it might appear to someone on the outside, is loving obedient children.
As a father, I am encouraged about my children's love for me when they simply comply with what I tell them, not from fear, but out of love. It is an indication of their regard and respect for me. Now if that is true on the human level, with a faulty sinful man, how much more true is it with God.
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? (Hebrews 12:9, NKJV).
John, in his later epistles, tells us that the commandments of Jesus are not burdensome. Jesus Himself says that his yoke is easy and His burden is light. Paul echoes these same sentiments throughout his New Testament writings, as well. But it goes even beyond whether or not what Jesus tells us to do is easy or hard. For in addition to drawing closer to the Sovereign Lord of the Universe as Brother and Friend, as Father and Comforter, and beyond even His empowering us to obey through His indwelling Spirit, grateful obedience to our God IS FOR OUR OWN BEST GOOD.
All beautiful and uplifting so far, yes? Of course. We sing chorus after chorus proclaiming our love for Jesus. We meditate on verses which declare His glory and love for us. We walk in assurance of His everlasting love and kindness, and then if you're even remotely like me, we turn around and DISOBEY. To be sure, He loves us. But if we are not following this simple equation, how exactly are we really loving Him?
You know the world's view of Christians runs the gamut from us being a hypnotized army of automatons operating in lock step with some imagined mythical sky god, or hypocrites saying one thing and doing another. What we really should be, regardless of how it might appear to someone on the outside, is loving obedient children.
As a father, I am encouraged about my children's love for me when they simply comply with what I tell them, not from fear, but out of love. It is an indication of their regard and respect for me. Now if that is true on the human level, with a faulty sinful man, how much more true is it with God.
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? (Hebrews 12:9, NKJV).
John, in his later epistles, tells us that the commandments of Jesus are not burdensome. Jesus Himself says that his yoke is easy and His burden is light. Paul echoes these same sentiments throughout his New Testament writings, as well. But it goes even beyond whether or not what Jesus tells us to do is easy or hard. For in addition to drawing closer to the Sovereign Lord of the Universe as Brother and Friend, as Father and Comforter, and beyond even His empowering us to obey through His indwelling Spirit, grateful obedience to our God IS FOR OUR OWN BEST GOOD.
It frees us from sin and provides us with joy and liberty. It enables us to be effective witnesses and Ambassadors for Christ while at the same time providing us with His peace that passes understanding. In short, the quality of our temporal lives is improved, no matter what else we may be going through.
"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…" (1Sa 15:22).
In case your heart is not yet pierced, here is a brief list of those commands He implores us to obey:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.
"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…" (1Sa 15:22).
In case your heart is not yet pierced, here is a brief list of those commands He implores us to obey:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.
Nothing is left out. Nothing can or should be held back.
Love one another. As in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
Forgive one another.
Has God forgiven you? What forgiveness has God kept from you? No matter what pride or offense keeps you from this, the example, the standard, is "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." However humbling it may be for you, until you have forgiven you cannot be free. Nor can the hardness of heart that prevents you from forgiving be forgiven.
Love one another. As in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
Forgive one another.
Has God forgiven you? What forgiveness has God kept from you? No matter what pride or offense keeps you from this, the example, the standard, is "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." However humbling it may be for you, until you have forgiven you cannot be free. Nor can the hardness of heart that prevents you from forgiving be forgiven.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14, 15, NKJV).
A regenerated heart filled with the love of God has no room for unforgiveness.
Bear one another's burdens.
This entails rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. It involves being generous and kind.
Bear one another's burdens.
This entails rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. It involves being generous and kind.
But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17, NKJV).
Pray without ceasing.
Live life with an intercessor's hearts, with an attitude of prayerful dependence and communion with your Maker and Redeemer. Self-reliance is an illusion of pride. Prayer is its opposite.
Be thankful for and in everything.
Thanksgiving is a humble acknowledgment of your loving dependence on God. It is a declaration of your trust in Him, no matter what your circumstances. It is the Apostle Paul singing hymns in prison. It is the complete acceptance that your life is in His hands. It is an act of will.
Do all things without complaining and disputing.
Complaint is you telling God what's best. Disputing is your attempt to argue with divine will. You, a creature versus God the Creator. Of course, if you are unconvinced of your faith, if it is just lip service, then complain away. Argue away.
Keep His Word - ALL of His Word, not just the parts you like or are good at.
This is not only an act of obedience but a testimony of your love, which is where we started. It includes, but is not limited to: trusting in the Lord with all your heart; confessing your sins to one another; not letting the sun go down on your anger; not being puffed up; being gentle; doing good to those who hate you and persecute you; leaving vengeance in God's hands, and not being a reproach to the name of Christ.
All these things are to be considered NOT as a checklist of performance items or goals that if you meet, Christ is obligated to give you a good grade or a bonus. These are, instead, mere ongoing expressions of gratitude and love for what has already been given you, and for what is promised in the future... forever.
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9, NKJV).
The thing is, we are not expected to do these things perfectly, but God implores us to WANT to do these things out of love. He knows that only through radical obedience will we live our lives as He wants them lived. And to be sure, consciously, arrogantly failing to obey should break our hearts. One thing is certain from Scripture - it breaks His.
Pray without ceasing.
Live life with an intercessor's hearts, with an attitude of prayerful dependence and communion with your Maker and Redeemer. Self-reliance is an illusion of pride. Prayer is its opposite.
Be thankful for and in everything.
Thanksgiving is a humble acknowledgment of your loving dependence on God. It is a declaration of your trust in Him, no matter what your circumstances. It is the Apostle Paul singing hymns in prison. It is the complete acceptance that your life is in His hands. It is an act of will.
Do all things without complaining and disputing.
Complaint is you telling God what's best. Disputing is your attempt to argue with divine will. You, a creature versus God the Creator. Of course, if you are unconvinced of your faith, if it is just lip service, then complain away. Argue away.
Keep His Word - ALL of His Word, not just the parts you like or are good at.
This is not only an act of obedience but a testimony of your love, which is where we started. It includes, but is not limited to: trusting in the Lord with all your heart; confessing your sins to one another; not letting the sun go down on your anger; not being puffed up; being gentle; doing good to those who hate you and persecute you; leaving vengeance in God's hands, and not being a reproach to the name of Christ.
All these things are to be considered NOT as a checklist of performance items or goals that if you meet, Christ is obligated to give you a good grade or a bonus. These are, instead, mere ongoing expressions of gratitude and love for what has already been given you, and for what is promised in the future... forever.
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9, NKJV).
The thing is, we are not expected to do these things perfectly, but God implores us to WANT to do these things out of love. He knows that only through radical obedience will we live our lives as He wants them lived. And to be sure, consciously, arrogantly failing to obey should break our hearts. One thing is certain from Scripture - it breaks His.
