MEASURE OF
LOVE
Fifth of
fourteen devotions in Gethsemane series
John
14:15-24
John
14:15: “If you love Me, you will obey what I command.”
This trip to Gethsemane isn’t
easy. We stretch to obey the urging of
God’s indwelling Spirit. But…since we’re
still living in this fallen world…what’s the harm dancing around the edges of
God’s will?
“I won’t get addicted,” we promise
God.
Obeying Jesus’ commands is so
important that He repeats Himself two more times. Whenever God repeats Himself, it’s like mom
yelling your entire name to get your attention.
Salvation is free for the believer-in-Christ. God’s love is certain. People’s reactions are unpredictable. If you’re reading this, God accurately
predicted your faith in His Son.
John 15:19 says, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its
own. As it is, you do not belong to the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
That is why the world hates you.”
People’s behavior after salvation is the wild card, certainly a
measure of our love.
Sayings like, “Actions speak louder
than words,” demand visual proof before promises are believed. Jesus’ disciples understood “I love You,
Lord!” required proof of action. The
lesson linked below shows what Jesus’ disciples heard, and lived by.
“Whoever has
My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father,
and I love him and will show Myself to him.”
(John 14:21). That’s the
first time Jesus repeated the opening Scripture.
“Honest, Lord, I can stop doing this
anytime I want!” we vow.
Sort of Loving God isn’t good
enough. And He knows the difference! He wants His kids “all in,” or nothing at all. That’s why stretching to answer God’s call to
serve is sooo hard for people to agree to.
Total surrender sounds awful!
Will I lose freedom to pursue my
dreams? No. God knit you together in your mother’s womb
to pursue your dreams. But, what if God
makes me do something I hate or am not good at?
Really? Think how much God loves you. How can a loving Father put His beloved child
in an unsuitable fit?
Take Home Nugget
“If anyone loves Me,
he will obey my teaching. My Father will
love him, and We will make Our home with him.” (John 14:23). Notice how Jesus sweetened His love and obey
statement when repeating Himself the third time? Jesus will show Himself to us. The Father will make His home with us!
That convinced me to totally
surrender myself to God.
Total surrender is the measure of Believers’
love. God will break every addiction you
may have first surrendered to!
I’m all in Lord!
Adapted from “The Measure of Our Love.” Dr. Charles Stanley. March 5, 2015. In Touch magazine. Georgia, USA.
J.D. Griffith
Most Recent eBook by J.D.
Griffith:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment