There are some key truths I would like to discuss that are found in John 14:15-24. In verse 15, Jesus states, "If you [really] love Me, you will keep [obey] My commands." Jesus' commandments [or commands] are His teachings. They are life principles, which describe the nature of Christ's life manifesting itself in us. It is God's plan that the very life of Jesus is manifested in and through each of us, His children. He even promised earlier in this chapter that we would "be able to do the things" that He did, and "even greater things." We should both look and act like Him!
Our obedience to His commands [teachings] is what proves our love for the Father. Our obedience does not buy or earn us His love. He already loves you much more than you even know! We obey Him simply because we love Him. This idea is expressed three tims in our passage of scripture. "If you love Me ... will obey ..." [v 15] "The one ... who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me ..." [v 21] "If a person [really] loves Me, He will keep My word [obey My teaching]." [v 23]
Jesus told us that He would give us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, and He would remain with us forever. The world does not see or know Him. But we do, "for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you." [v 17] We must come to know the Spirit of Truth. Without the Spirit dwelling in us, we are incapable of hearing the words He speaks to us.
Remember that the initial ingredient of obedience is to hear. By hearing, knowledge and understanding comes so that w know what to obey. But if we don't love God we won't wish to hear. All born-again Christians possess that still small voice within them. But with the progression of time, if we ignore it, we often hear this voice less and less. In his book, Baptized By Fire, Ben Girod says that "Since we do not like to hear ... we just disregard Him. Each time we do this,our capacity to hear His voice becomes weaker and our path more obscure."
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This is the only proper evidense of love to Jesus; keeping His commandments. Simple profession is not proof of love but keeping (doing) His commandments. This all through good report, bad report, good times, bad times, and etc. no matter the persecution.
ReplyDeleteGood blog Dave. Good subject and well put. I look forward to your next post.