LOVE AND OBEDIENCE

LOVE AND OBEDIENCE

 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” —Luke 6:47-49

 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. —Luke 7:6-10

 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. —Luke 7:47

             “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).  “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).  Love and obedience to our Lord or obedience and love to our Lord— they go hand in hand.  You cannot separate the one from the other.  A person cannot say they love our Lord and be disobedient at the same time.  Nor can a person say they are being obedient and not love our Lord.  The one who loves much will have a loving, obedient, servant’s heart.

            The one who hears God’s Word (Romans 10:17) or reads God’s Word (John 20:31) and loves God will obey what He says.  It is not obedience out of a wrong attitude, but it is an obedience knowing we are under a Loving Authority.  He will not ask of us anything that is not for His glory and our benefit.  In return we lovingly obey and serve because we know He will not ask of us anything that is not for His glory and our benefit.

            Now… we might not understand all that He is doing because “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him: (Psalm 115:3).  Much of what He has done we do not understand, but He has given us His Word and His Word is enough to give us the faith and belief that we need to follow Him.  So, it comes down to hearing/reading what He has to say and out of love for Him (Matthew 22:37-40) we willingly obey Him.  So… are you?  What is He asking of you and will you, out of love for Him, obey Him?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g02mOpdNDtY

Dear Father what You say for me to be and do, may I do so out of love for You and people.  Yes, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.