(The following is the April 24 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read John 14 and pay close attention to verses 15-24.)
How do we show our love for Christ? We keep his commands. What is the proof someone does not love Christ? They disregard his words. The test is simple. The apostle John recorded Jesus’ words on this topic several times in his Gospel and added more in 1 John:
“If you love me, you will keep my commands” (v. 15).
“The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me” (v. 21).
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words” (vv. 23-24).
“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love” (John 15:10).
“You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14).
“This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. The one who says, ‘I have come to know him,’ and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete” (1 John 2:3-5).
Imagine a husband and wife who profess to love one another but consistently fail to act lovingly toward each other. What if one repeatedly does things contrary to the other’s known wishes? Would you describe such a relationship as loving? No. We demonstrate love or the lack of it through our actions. Words professing love are meaningless if contradicted or not shown through everyday behavior. This is true in our human relationships and our relationship with Christ.
“If you love me, you will keep my commands.”
Next Step:
Are you aware of any New Testament command you fail to keep? What behaviors should you change to obey Christ and love him more faithfully?
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