Message from Scripture: 6/29/2020

Today’s message from Scripture comes from John 14:15; “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

It really is an amazing thing to stop and consider how much God loves us, how much Christ loves us. In today’s passage of Scripture, Jesus speaks about love and what our love should mean to Him. To best understand what Jesus says, we need to know what He does not say about love.

First, Jesus did not say, “If you keep my commandments, I will love you.” Some believe a relationship with God is based on doing enough good deeds God will love us and save us on the basis of those works. We need to understand we cannot earn God’s love, that even at our best, we fall short of what God wants us to be. Jesus said, “In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty” (Luke 17:10).

Jesus also did not say, “If you love me you do not have to keep my commandments.” Some people believe God loves us so much He would never condemn us. He would never reprove us, but always accepts us no matter what. Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46).

Jesus did say our love should motivate us to obey Him. Knowing God loved us enough to send His Son to die so our sins should be forgiven, and Jesus loved us enough to obey the will of the Father in coming to earth, how can we dismiss the need from love for our submission to His will? Paul said, “Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph. 5:2).

We would not say God loved us if, having the capacity to bring about our forgiveness, He refused to act on our behalf. In a similar way, if we truly love God, we will show it by how we respond to His will. Have a great day in Christ. God bless.

Robert