John 14:23
Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him.
Today I bring a message of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has the power to transform our lives, our relationships, and our communities. It is a message that calls us to a deeper, more intimate relationship with the One who loves us beyond measure. It is a message of love, obedience, and faithfulness. I invite you to open your hearts and minds to the life-changing truth of God's Word as we explore together the vital connection between loving Jesus and keeping His word.
Our key text for today's devotional comes from the Gospel of John, Chapter 14, verse 15, where Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments." At first glance, this statement may seem straightforward. However, upon closer examination, we discover it contains profound insights into our relationship with Christ and the path to true spiritual growth.
First, let us consider the importance of love in our relationship with Jesus. The Bible tells us that "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and that "we love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). This divine love is not merely an emotion or a feeling; it is a powerful force that seeks the highest good of the one who is loved. It is a love that is sacrificial, selfless, and unconditional. This is the love that Jesus showed when He willingly laid down His life for us on the cross, bearing the weight of our sins and offering us the gift of eternal life.
As followers of Christ, we are called to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). This means that our love for Jesus must be more than mere words or sentimental feelings. It must be a heartfelt love that permeates every aspect of our lives and motivates us to a life that is pleasing to Him. This kind of love is not something that we can manufacture on our own; it is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who pours God's love into our hearts (Romans 5:5).
Now, let us turn our attention to the connection between loving Jesus and keeping His commandments. Jesus clarifies that our love for Him is not to be a passive, complacent love, but an active, obedient love. If we truly love Jesus, we show that love by obeying His commandments and living according to His teachings.
This brings us to a crucial question: What are Jesus' commandments? While there are many specific instructions and teachings that Jesus gave to His followers, the essence of His commandments can be summed up in two great commandments: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). These two commandments are inseparable, for as the Apostle John reminds us, "He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" (1 John 4:20).
Jesus gave us a new commandment: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). This commandment to love one another as Jesus has loved us is the hallmark of our Christian faith. It is the distinguishing mark that sets us apart from the world and identifies us as loyal disciples of Christ.
So, how do we go about loving Jesus and keeping His commandments in our daily lives? The answer lies in cultivating a close, personal relationship with Jesus through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. As we spend time in His presence, we will come to know Him more intimately and grow in our love for Him. This love will lead us to a life of obedience and faithfulness to His commandments.
We must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to love and obey Jesus as we ought. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). As we yield to the Spirit's leading and depend on His strength, we will find ourselves more able to love Jesus & keep His commandments.
In conclusion, let us remember that loving Jesus and keeping
His commandments are not optional extras in our Christian walk; they are the
very essence of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. May we, by God's
grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit, commit ourselves anew to loving
Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to keeping His
commandments as a tangible expression of that love. And as we do so, may we
experience the joy, peace, and abundant life that Jesus has promised to those
who love Him and keep His commandments.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You today with humble
hearts, acknowledging our unworthiness and our need for Your grace. We thank
You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came into this world to save us
from our sins and to show us the way to eternal life. Lord Jesus, we love You
and we desire to follow You more closely. Help us keep Your commandments and to
live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to You. Grant us the wisdom to
discern Your will for us and the courage to carry it out, even when it is
difficult or unpopular.
We know, Lord, that You have said, "If you love Me,
keep My commandments". We want to show our love for You by obeying Your
word and by living lives that reflect Your love and goodness. We ask for Your
Holy Spirit to guide us in this journey, to strengthen us when we are weak, and
to convict us when we stray from Your path. Teach us, Lord, to love one another
as You have loved us. Help us be patient and kind, to be slow to anger and
quick to forgive. Show us how to serve others with humility and generosity,
putting their needs before our own. May our love for one another be a testimony
to the world of Your love for us, and may it draw others to You.
Forgive us, Lord, for the times when we have failed to keep
Your commandments. We know we are sinners in need of Your mercy and grace. We
thank You for the promise of forgiveness and the assurance of salvation that we
have through faith in Jesus Christ. Help us accept Your forgiveness and to
extend that same forgiveness to others when they hurt or disappoint us. As we
strive to follow Your commandments, we ask for Your protection from the
temptations and snares of the enemy. Keep us from falling into sin and help us
resist the allure of the world. May our hearts be filled with the love of
Christ, so that there is no room for anything that is not of You.
We also pray for our church family and the leaders who serve
alongside us. Grant them wisdom, discernment, and a heart for Your people. Help
us support and encourage one another in our walk with You, and to hold each
other accountable to Your word. Finally, we ask that You would continue to mould
us and shape us into the people You have called us to be. May our lives be a
living testimony to Your love, and may our obedience to Your commandments bring
glory and honour to Your name. In Jesus' name. Amen.