"If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15).
In today's society, there's an apparent disconnect between love and obedience in spiritual matters. It seems as though some feel that stressing the importance of obeying God's Word borders on legalism, ritualism, Pharisaism, etc. Love and obedience are polar opposites in their minds.
Jesus' words in John 14:15 make it very clear that we show God true love BY obedience to His commandments. If we truly love Him, we will do what He says. Jesus obeyed God's commands perfectly (I Peter 2:22). He came to do the Father's will (Hebrews 10:7). Certainly we would not accuse Him of being legalistic, ritualistic, Pharisaical, etc.
Jesus also said, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21). We must obey God if we want to go to heaven. The obedience must be from the heart (Romans 6:17) and not thoughtless or careless. We can talk about love all day long, but, according to our Lord, true love shows itself in obeying His Word. True love for God and true obedience to His commands simply cannot be separated. True love motivates true obedience and true obedience is the result of true love.
| Day of the Week | Verses For Daily Study | Questions For Daily Introspection |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | John 15:13-14 | How did Jesus demonstrate His love to us? |
| Day 2 | Matthew 15:8 | Why must service to God be from the heart? |
| Day 3 | Matthew 12:50 | How can I grow in my knowledge of the will of God? |
| Day 4 | Hebrews 5:8 | Why did Jesus need to learn to be obedient? |
| Day 5 | John 4:34 | Is doing God's will the main focus of my life like it was for Jesus? |
| Day 6 | Matthew 5:20 | How must our righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees? |
| Day 7 | 1 John 1:6-10 | What does it mean to walk in the light? |
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