23 June 2024

WALKING IN LOVE AND OBEDIENCE

(Going Forward in Christ: GFIC 25)

Our Lord said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments…Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me” (John 14:15, 21). We cannot go forward in Christ and grow up spiritually in Him if we do not love Him. The proof of our love is obedience. This is where many Christians fail. In Worship we sing, “I love you Lord…I love Your voice…“ etc., but we do not walk in obedience. Isn’t that hypocritical?

Walking, as we know, is always progressive. We walk to reach our destination. How can we progress in our faith and spiritual life if we do not walk in obedience? Hence, we see many Christians who are spiritually ‘stunted’ because they have not walked in obedience to Christ’s commands. We fool ourselves by thinking we have much knowledge and so we have grown spiritually. However, if we do not walk consistently in obedience, how can we truly grow in spiritual stature? There can be no spiritual growth and progress without obedience.

Obedience to Christ is firstly a sign of Lordship: that Jesus is really Lord in our life. Christ rebuked His disciples for that: “Why do you call me “Lord, Lord” and not do what I tell say?” (Luke 6:46). Secondly, as seen above, obedience is proof that we really love Jesus. We love Him because He first loved us and gave Himself for us. The Bible gave a severe warning for not loving Jesus: “If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed. Maranatha – Come, Lord” (1 Cor.16:22). Can a “cursed” person really grow spiritually?

Love and Obedience will result in blessings that we can never really imagine. Our Lord promises us that “The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them…Anyone who loves Me will obey My Teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our Home with them” (John 14:21, 23). If these promises will not inspire us to love and obey Christ, I do not know what else will.

Notice the Promises our Lord made:
1. The Father will love us. God loved us as sinners and then sent His Son to save us. Now He will love us even more because we love His Son and obey Him. He will embrace us with His Love and make us feel so loved and wanted.

2. Jesus will show Himself to us. The KJV uses the word “manifest” and another Version says “reveal”. Christ may reveal or manifest Himself to us more intimately through visions or appearances. Or He will open our minds with understanding so that we may see Him more clearly in the Holy Scriptures as He did with the disciples (LUKE 24:27, 44-45).

3. The Triune God will Dwelling within us: “We will come and make Our Home with them.” PRAISE THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD AND HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER! 

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