If You Love Him, You Obey Him

Memory verse: “Jesus replied, ‘if anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him’ “(John 14:23)

Jesus said someone who has an intimate relationship with Him (“brother,” “sister,” “mother”) is the one who does the will of the Heavenly Father (see Matt. 12:50). Jesus clearly indicated a person’s obedience reveals his or her love relationship with God (see John 14:15-21).

James, in his letter to believers, strongly emphasized that faith that does not result in actions is dead (see Jas. 2:26). When the disciples obeyed Jesus, they saw and experienced God’s mighty power working in and around them. When they did not act in faith and do His will, they did not experience God’s power.

In many ways obedience is your moment of truth. What you do will…

  • Reveal what you believe about God

  • Determine whether you will experience His mighty work in you and through you

  • Decide whether you will come to know Him more intimately

When you come to a moment of truth when you must choose whether to obey God, you will not obey Him unless you believe Him. You cannot trust Him unless you love Him. You will not love Him unless you know Him.

The previous level of your walk with God will not be adequate for the new work God wants to do through you. Each new command of Jesus will require a fresh knowledge and understanding of Him. The Holy Spirit will teach you about Jesus so you can trust Him and obey Him. Then you will experience Him in new ways. This is how you grow in Him. As 1John 2:3-6 says that when you come to know Him, you will obey Him. If you do not obey Him, that indicates you do not know Him.

Jesus stated it differently when He said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not proph­esy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matt. 7:21-23). Obedience is crucial.