“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
John 14:21
What is the evidence of love?
According to Jesus, the proof that we love Him is that we obey Him. But it also works the other way.
“Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”
John 14:24
If we don’t obey Jesus’ commands it reveals the truth — that we don’t really love Him. And did you catch the references to the Father in both of these verses?
“But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”
John 14:31
Think about this truth.
Built into the Godhead of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is a relationship of submission and obedience. It isn’t one of superiority in terms of a higher nature or greater power — the persons of the Trinity are completely equal in their divine essence. But it is a reality of the Father-Son relationship that the Father commands and the Son obeys — “all the way, right away, with a happy heart.”
That is a remarkable concept.
And we are expected to copy it. We are instructed — commanded even — to emulate this relationship. It is the proof of our love for Jesus.
Of course it is. This is true in our own families. Why do children obey their parents? “Because I said so.” Sure. But mainly because they love and trust and desire to honor the parents who gave them life. When a child rebels what does it reveal? A lack of genuine love. A breakdown of relationship.
So. Do you see the rub?
To love Jesus is to obey His commands. Do you know His commands? Here is a short list for quick reference.
- Follow me in complete surrender (Mark 8:34-35)
- Love God with all you are (Matt. 22:37-38)
- Make disciples (Matt. 28:19)
- Love one another (John 13:34)
- Make sacrifices for the poor (Matt. 25:37-40)
I’m sure you could find 20-30 more commands of Christ (think about prayer, fasting and giving, for example – Matt. 6), but this is a decent starting point. So how are you doing? What does your obedience to the commands of Christ reveal about your love for Him?
The old Sunday School song remains very true. “Trust and obey… for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” If we don’t obey it’s because we don’t really believe that it’s worth it to obey — we don’t really believe that Jesus is worthy. We don’t really love Him.
But as we really get to know Jesus it will deepen our trust in Him. And as we trust Him and walk with Him we will increasingly love Him. And the sign that all of that is real is that we will joyfully obey His commands.