Love That Obeys
Advent Week Two, Day Five
John 14:15-21

Focus: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments...”

The test of authentic love for Jesus is whether or not we obey his commandments. Jesus teaches us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind and soul. The second, he says, is to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-39) In fact, all of the commandments in scripture hang on these two.

We will never be consistent in our obedience, however, until we are abiding in his love. Jesus likened himself to a vine and his followers to branches; they can only know his love when they are abiding in him. When we know him and his love for us, obeying him by loving him and our neighbor will naturally follow.

Our obedience does not earn God’s love, but rather it is our natural response of his love for us: it is the fruit of our love for him. And just like when my own children choose to obey me out of love it brings me joy, likewise when a follower of Jesus chooses to obey God out of love it brings God joy.

“If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” Oswald Chambers

We gaze upon what we love. If we gaze upon ourselves, we will love and serve ourselves. If we gaze upon our Lord, we will love and serve him. This Christmas season, be mindful of what or who you are gazing upon and therefore obeying.