- I used to read this verse like this. "I will obey Him to prove I love Him."
- But that's not how it should be ready.
- Reading John 14:15 like that leads to “duty” or “law"
- It leads to a mindset of , "I must do this in order to show I love Him”
- That way, the emphasis is the commandments.
- In the Amplified version it reads like this, "If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands."
- In other words, "Fall in love with Me first, really in love with Me…head over heels in love with me”, then you won't have any problem obeying me.
- Emphasis here is “Really Love me"
- Your focus is on the love relationship, not on following the commands.
- You are so consumed with being in love with Him, that obedience is just a natural byproduct...
- You won't see it as a bunch of rules to follow.
- You will see them as loving instructions on how to get the most out of life.
- You will trust Him.
- This is how you have a blessed life.
- This is how you experience His favor.
- It begins with receiving His love and realizing how much He went through to give you His love and for you to experience His true unfailing love.
- Then once you receive His love, you want to obey.
- It's like me telling my son not to run out into the street when there is traffic.
- As a father, I say it out of love so that he doesn't get hurt.
- I don't say it to give him a rule or keep him from having fun.
- when Jesus says, "If you love me, obey..."
- You see it as the Best life you could possibly live.
- A life without regrets.
- A life without pain.
- Everything flows out of that Love Relationship.
- The very next verse continues with Jesus saying, "And..."
- In other words, don't stop with verse 15, there's more...
- "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby),
that He may remain with you forever--" (v.16 AMP)
- I will remain with you forever, Jesus says.
- He gets to be “with you!”
- What is the main thing that you want to do with someone you love? You want to be with them!
- He is with you for a purpose.
- He says, "I will give you the ability to do what I'm asking you to do."
- My presence will complete you in every way.
- Anything and everything you need to get the most out of life is found in an intimate relationship with Jesus.
- Go and experience all that He has for you today!
- Have a great Weekend!