“If you love me, keep my commands.
John 14:23-24

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
John 14:15

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I am a rule maker. As an educator and a parent, I created policies and standards for the good of the group and the benefit of individuals. My knee-jerk reaction is to consider flagrant disregard for my guidelines as disrespecting me, and I take it as an insult. As a teacher and parent, I have needed to rise above this reaction.

On one occasion, a younger teacher attended the wake of a student who died in a car accident. She didn’t teach this student, but many of her students were friends with him. She sat there all night consoling her pupils. The next week, they misbehaved constantly. She was in tears every day. We assumed it was because they were so vulnerable with her that now they thought they could just let their good behavior go to the wayside without being punished.  Nonetheless, she was angry and sad because she had reached out to these students, and by discarding her classroom rules, it felt like nothing short of a slap in the face. She had extended love and received betrayal. 

Is that how God feels when we disobey? He gave everything for us.

Jesus died for our sins. He set up the requirements for a fruitful life. When we disobey, we either shake our fist at God and purposefully break his rules, or we are so careless that we forget his gracious love. Either way, when we flagrantly disregard God, I imagine He feels angry and sad.  

So how do we get to a point of happy obedience? Think of the times you were the parent, boss, uncle or aunt, friend, or babysitter and the one you were caring for did everything you asked of them. Were you more than pleased and honored when someone obeyed and respected your standards? I’m guessing you felt beloved because someone cared enough to follow your lead. Now you can show your love to God through your obedience.

Next Steps

Worship music frequently gets me in the right headspace. Try listening to this song.

We love God by keeping His commands. We demonstrate genuine love through action. When we want what God wants, it is easier to comply. God gave us the Holy Spirit to help write God’s commands on our hearts (Jer. 31:33).