Obedience is the Measure of Love
John 14: 22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, "Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?"
23 Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.
Jesus said those who love Him obey Him. It is easy for me to mis-hear what Jesus is saying. Because the enemy wants me to hold myself to a false standard, I can think Jesus wants me to build Him a better Tom to get more near Him...that is not what He is saying.
What Jesus said was that our obedience was a measure of our love. Like a thermometer...a thermometer doesn't make the temperature warmer or colder, it tells you what the temperature is. My obedience doesn't change my status with God in and of itself, but it measures the intensity of my heart for Him. If I have no hunger or thirst for obedience, then my true desire for Jesus, my relationship with Him, is in BAD shape. I need to fix that, by reaching for more...asking for more. I can actually request "Jesus, give me more hunger and thirst for obedience!" And He will really do it. In fact, Jesus said blessed are those who hunger for righteousness, for they will be satisfied (Matthew 4).
Jesus wants us to be able to measure the intensity of our heart towards Him. We have complete control over what we desire, and He doesn't want us to settle for religion. He wants us living and growing in an increasingly intense and real relationship with Him! This is what begins to unlock the most amazing reality:
John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
Even greater things than water to wine, walking on water, healing the sick, casting out enemies, raising the dead...living on every word the Father speaks... fellowship with the Holy Spirit?!
Yes!
23 Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.
Jesus said those who love Him obey Him. It is easy for me to mis-hear what Jesus is saying. Because the enemy wants me to hold myself to a false standard, I can think Jesus wants me to build Him a better Tom to get more near Him...that is not what He is saying.
What Jesus said was that our obedience was a measure of our love. Like a thermometer...a thermometer doesn't make the temperature warmer or colder, it tells you what the temperature is. My obedience doesn't change my status with God in and of itself, but it measures the intensity of my heart for Him. If I have no hunger or thirst for obedience, then my true desire for Jesus, my relationship with Him, is in BAD shape. I need to fix that, by reaching for more...asking for more. I can actually request "Jesus, give me more hunger and thirst for obedience!" And He will really do it. In fact, Jesus said blessed are those who hunger for righteousness, for they will be satisfied (Matthew 4).
Jesus wants us to be able to measure the intensity of our heart towards Him. We have complete control over what we desire, and He doesn't want us to settle for religion. He wants us living and growing in an increasingly intense and real relationship with Him! This is what begins to unlock the most amazing reality:
John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
Even greater things than water to wine, walking on water, healing the sick, casting out enemies, raising the dead...living on every word the Father speaks... fellowship with the Holy Spirit?!
Yes!
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