In this devotional, we will reflect on the profound message contained in the verse John 14:15. 'If you love me, you will keep my commandments' is more than a simple request; it is an invitation to express our love for God through obedience to His commandments. This theme, 'To obey is to love God', challenges us to rethink our understanding of divine love and our response to it.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.John 14:15 is a powerful statement by Jesus that links love for Him to obedience to His commandments. This underscores that true love is not merely emotional, but involves action - the action of obeying God's commandments. Love for God, therefore, is expressed in a practical and tangible way through obedience.
Biblical Examples
- Abraham demonstrated his love and obedience to God by agreeing to sacrifice his only son. In Genesis 22:1-19, God asks Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Despite the challenging and painful command, Abraham obeys without question. He prepares the altar and is about to sacrifice Isaac when an angel of the Lord appears and prevents him. This episode underscores Abraham's willingness to obey God, even under the most challenging circumstances, demonstrating his deep love and loyalty to God.
- Jesus was the ultimate example of love and obedience to God. In Matthew 26:39, Jesus, knowing that He would be crucified, prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will'. Jesus expressed His deep love and obedience to God by fulfilling the Father's will, even in the face of great suffering and death. This act of obedience provided salvation for all mankind.
- Jonah learned about love and obedience to God the hard way. Jonah 1 tells us that God ordered Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to warn its inhabitants about divine punishment. However, Jonah disobeyed and fled. God then sent a great storm and a great fish, which swallowed Jonah. Inside the fish, Jonah prayed to God and promised to obey. When the fish spat him out, Jonah went to Nineveh and fulfilled the mission God had given him. This episode shows that disobeying God can result in severe consequences, but God is merciful and gives second chances to those who repent.
The examples of Abraham, Jesus, and Jonah clearly illustrate the connection between love and obedience to God. Each of these individuals demonstrated their love for God through their obedience, albeit under different circumstances.
Abraham and Jesus, despite facing great challenges and difficulties, chose to obey God, demonstrating their deep love for Him. Jonah, who initially disobeyed God, learned the hard way that disobedience can lead to severe consequences. However, God's love and mercy prevailed, giving Jonah a second chance.
We can learn from these examples that our love for God is manifested through our obedience to Him. Even when we face challenges, we should trust in God and follow His commandments. Not only does this demonstrate our love for Him, but it also allows us to experience His love and grace in our lives.
Curiosities
God's love expressed through obedience in the Old Testament.
In the Old Testament, obedience to God's commands was already seen as a way to express love for Him. In Deuteronomy 11:1, for instance, Moses instructs the Israelites to love the Lord and to keep His commandments. This connection between love and obedience is a recurrent theme throughout the Bible. Proverbs 3:1 further emphasizes this idea: 'My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments.' Loving God, expressed through obedience to His commands, is a distinctive mark of God's people in all times.Jesus' teachings on love for God and obedience.
Jesus Christ, in His teachings, emphasized obedience as an expression of love for God. In John 14:15, He stated: 'If you love me, you will keep my commandments.' This shows that love for God is not merely expressed in words or feelings, but also in concrete actions according to His will. Jesus makes this idea even clearer in John 14:21, when He says that those who keep His commandments are those who love Him.Obedience to God in the context of the New Testament.
In the context of the New Testament, obedience to God's commandments is also a way to express love for Him. The Apostle John, in 1 John 5:3, reaffirms Jesus' teaching: 'For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.' Thus, loving God means obeying His commandments, not out of obligation or fear, but out of genuine gratitude and love.
Practical Application
Practice obedience in your relationships
Obedience to God is reflected in our daily relationships. If we love God, we must obey His commands, and one of them is to love our neighbor as ourselves. This can be practiced, for example, by respecting others' boundaries, being honest in our interactions, and showing kindness even when it isn't easy. When we obey God in these aspects, we show our love for Him through our actions.Seek obedience in your daily habits
We can show our love for God through how we handle our daily activities. Obeying God in our habits might mean taking care of our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit, avoiding behaviors harmful to our health. It can also mean managing our time well, so we can dedicate ourselves to prayer, Bible reading, and serving others.Develop obedience in your prayer life
Obedience to God can also be expressed in our prayer life. This can be demonstrated by regularly setting aside time for prayer, even amidst a busy schedule. We can also obey God by praying for those who persecute us or do us wrong, as Jesus instructed us to do. By doing this, we show our love for God and our willingness to follow His commands.