LEARNING DAILY

John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  Jesus

John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to Him.” Jesus

Remember what has happened in the Upper Room. Jesus has washed the feet of the disciples, told them one of them would deny Him, told them to love on another, as He has loved them, and told them He is the way, the truth, the life. Jesus knows He is headed to the cross and is trying to encourage the disciples about following Him, that doing so is the way to the Father in heaven. Those who know and follow Him have an opportunity to do greater works than He did.

Now He tells them that obedience to His teachings is directly connected to one’s love for Him. Through the years I have heard those who are quite legalistic with this verse, using it to center salvation on works. There are others who say what Believer’s do, their behavior, has nothing to do with their salvation. Be careful – both of these thoughts are wrong. He has just told them He alone is responsible for their salvation, “I am the way, the truth, the life.”

It is good for all Believers to understand what it means to love God. This is an important theme in John’s writings. It refers to following the Lord wherever He leads. Believers are to be obedient to all He asks and instructs in His Word. One cannot do that if they are not in His Word. I do not understand the person who says he/she has not read the Bible and is not going to; reading/studying/meditating on God’s Word is how one comes to know who God is, His attributes, and how to walk with Him on the narrow way into His kingdom. Loving God means to trust Him in each and every circumstance brought his way. Walking the narrow way is not so bad until the trial(s) come; then the decision to trust Him comes before each Believer. Jesus did not promise walking the narrow way would be comfortable or without difficulty. He said walking the narrow way would come with difficulties and the difficulties would help them in their growth and maturing in Him.

Loving God is defined as agape in the Greek. It means unconditional love. Read 1 Corinthians 13 to read that this type of love is patient, kind, rejoices in the truth, and endures all things. It is not envious, boastful and does not rejoice in the wrongdoings of others. This type of love never ends and is certainly not based on the circumstances faced. “Agape” love is not an emotion; it is a choice to act, in this case act like Jesus. In the verses above He was telling the disciples they were obligated to show this type of love to others. He was teaching them that their love for Him would be demonstrated to others by their actions; their obedience was to be an outward show of their love for Him.

Believers, you cannot hate others (especially other Christians), treat others poorly and claim to know Jesus. As a Believer, one cannot consistently ignore His teachings. Again, remember that Believers are not perfect, nor does good behavior earn one’s place in heaven. The point is when Christ becomes your Savior, He becomes your Lord as well and you begin to become like Him. To love Jesus is to willfully act in such a way that actions prove your love for Him. Being able to live in obedience, to follow God’s will depend on the Holy Spirit’s influence to teach and guide your life. That’s for the next page of the blog.