(As I sat down to read the Word, something told me that I would need to take note. Of course, I put off stepping out to the car to get my notebook, but after what was revealed… I could not go any further without writing in that notebook)
My eyes may have read a passage in the Word over and over, year after year; yet only as God reveals ‘keys’ do I see what I am reading with clarity. Just now while reading in John 14, I ”see” something never noticed before…
The word OBEY is ugly. It brings with it a lot of resistance and antipathy. OBEY is a difficult ‘stop’ word to reckon with for any Spirit who is free, a dirty word to any person with an open heart. And yet within the quotes attributed to the Lord of our freedom is this very word, ‘OBEY’.
Perhaps I have glanced right over it every time my eyes read the word, avoiding it and how it made me feel. For amid Jesus explaining His love, provision, and indwelling there was also this ugly word. Until just now – when it became beautiful.
As He speaks to the disciples about who He is, where He is going, and the Holy Spirit; Jesus also pairs the words LOVE + OBEY.
He says it 3 times to make the point clear.
“If you love Me, you will obey what I command”
“Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me.”
“If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching”
LOVE + OBEY
In every instance Jesus also follows with how upon doing so ~ the Father will love him (us) and be present within him (us).
A formula is a set of instructions for creating a desired result.
As Jesus spoke previously, a person can love but without commitment that love is of no use. A person can follow all the Law but without love it resounds with a dull thud. God desires us to have a full life IN Him. If we love Him, we must obey (yield, submit, honor, humble, follow, act, respond, listen, accept) and let go of our own ego there at the altar. Love says to embrace.
Jesus says to embrace is a TOTAL commitment.
We cannot do this on our own. Therefore, in the same discussion Jesus offers the Holy Spirit, as our Counselor who CAN get us there.
My spirit is so thankful to have found this passage. It makes sense. For if we say “Jesus I believe You and all that You say”; but then choose a non-committed stance, bending the commands to suit our own will and ego, His love cannot be complete in us. To obey then is to have the fullness of His love and His indwelling…everything God has for us.
LORD You are amazing. No section of the Word is without life – giving instruction. I may read the words again and again, but only when You reveal it, can I ‘see’ it.
Open my eyes!
