John 14:15 (KJV)
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
True love for God is shown through obedience to His commandments. In today’s world, we must ask ourselves: are we walking in love, or merely acting out of obligation?
Rhema:
The keeping of His commandments is a reflection of our love for God. So the question is: are we really doing things out of love for God, or are we doing them out of obligation? We should be able to distinguish between the two and act according to the will of God.
What is His will? His will is to love our neighbor as ourselves. If we look at Jesus’ example, we can see that to love others means to sacrifice ourselves, to serve them, to be meek, gentle, and patient with them. We are called to submit to those in authority, not out of the obligation to please anyone, but because it becomes our way of showing that we love God by loving others.
Reflection:
In every part of our lives, we are sometimes faced with situations that cause us to pause and ask: are we doing this because it truly makes others—or God—happy, or are we doing it because we’re expected to, in order to gain recognition or validation from others?
The love that dwells in us through Christ is the same love that should be reflected in our daily walk. Not out of pressure or expectation, but because we are willing to serve and to sacrifice for those around us.
This love if genuine will often be tested in the most painful ways. That brings us to an important reminder.
Reminder:
Our walk with God is never easy. We will experience many challenges, and Jesus was clear when He set our expectations on how narrow this path would be.
As Paul said in:
2 Corinthians 2:3 (KJV)
"And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all."
Paul expresses a reality we all face. Those we love deeply, those we should rejoice in, may sometimes become sources of sorrow. But even in that sorrow, there is joy because joy is often tied to the sacrifices we make in love and service.
To truly love means being willing to do what brings others joy, even if it brings us pain. That is what it means to walk in love, to obey His commandments not for ease or reward, but out of a deep desire to reflect Christ. Loving God means loving others more than ourselves, and finding peace in that sorrowful yet joyful path.
John 16:33 (KJV)
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Even in sorrow, we have peace. Even in tribulation, we are not alone. For Christ has overcome the world, and in Him we walk with hope.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, help me to be more and more like You. Give me a heart that loves deeply and serves sincerely. Teach me to walk humbly and to reflect Your love in every action. Let Your light shine through me so I may be a blessing to those around me.
Though the world may not always be kind, I thank You that I have peace in You. Help me walk in alignment with Your will, and uphold the things I have learned from You. Let my love be true, and my obedience joyful feven in sorrow. I trust all these things in Your mighty name, Lord Jesus. Amen.