Remaining in Jesus' Love Through Obedience
Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | August 7 2024 | John 15:9-10
KEY VERSE:
“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” John 15:10 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
Today, the kind of love Jesus invites us to remain in is a kind of love that mirrors the perfect love He receives from the Father. This divine love is not passive; it calls for an active response of obedience. Jesus sets the example by His own life, as He faithfully kept the Father's commands and remained in His love. Our relationship with Jesus is deepened and sustained through our commitment to follow His teachings. Obedience is the pathway to experiencing the fullness of His love and maintaining a close, intimate connection with Him.
Remaining in Jesus' love through obedience involves aligning our lives with His commands. This means living out His teachings in every aspect of our lives—our thoughts, words, actions, and relationships. When we obey Jesus, we are not merely following rules but responding to His love with our love. This obedience is a testament to our trust in Him and our desire to please Him. As we align our wills with His and walk in His ways, we experience the profound depth of His love, which nurtures and sustains us.
Obedience to Jesus' commands also brings about transformation in our lives. It shapes our character to reflect His, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit within us. As we remain in His love, we become channels of His love to others, displaying kindness, patience, and compassion. This outward expression of Jesus' love through our actions strengthens our bond with Him and serves as a powerful witness to the world. By remaining in Jesus' love through obedience, we live out our faith authentically, drawing others to the source of our love and joy—Jesus Himself.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Commit to a life of obedience, rooted in love. Obey and practice the teachings of Christ not out of compulsion but out of love and reverence for His love for you. Let your obedience test your love.
PRAYER:
Father, I choose to obey your word. Help me to be faithful in studying and living in your word. May my obedience not be for the approval and glory of men, but to be all for your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
DAILY word study: KEEP
The word "keep" in our key verse is translated from the Greek word "τηρέω" (tēreō), which means to watch over, guard, preserve, or maintain. It carries the sense of vigilant obedience and faithful observance.
Remaining in Jesus' love through obedience mirrors the relationship between Jesus and the Father. Jesus kept the Father’s commands and thus remained in His love. This model of obedience and love provides the framework for the relationship between Jesus and His disciples. It shows that love and obedience are intrinsically linked; obedience is both the evidence and the means of remaining in Jesus' love. It is through this loving obedience that believers maintain an intimate and enduring relationship with Christ.
Reflections:
Keeping Jesus' commands is a tangible expression of our love for Him and a way to remain in His love. In what ways can I deepen my obedience to Jesus' commands to ensure that I remain in His love, and how does this obedience reflect my love for Him?
Comments