Love and obedience

Obedience to God is such an essential attribute of our Christian lives that it is the proof of our love for God. There’s no way we can claim to love God if we are not walking or willing to walk in obedience to His Word.  

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. John 14:23 NKJV

Obedience has been defined as “dutiful or submissive compliance to the commands of one in authority.” The word ‘dutiful’ means it is an obligation to obey God as our Creator. ‘Submissive’ indicates that we yield our wills to God’s will as the One Who has authority over us. 

While it is good to obey God as a matter of duty, it is far more pleasant when we obey Him out of love. When we begin to think about Him as a Lover who we do not want to hurt, obedience to Him will become a lifestyle. Then, we’ll no longer struggle with submitting to Him.

If you take a second look at the Bible passage above, you’ll see the web of love and obedience. It’s the love inspired obedience that attracts the love of God and ultimately gives birth to fellowship with the Divinity (…and We will come to him and make Our home with him).  

Have you settled the love question yet? If not, you can open your heart to Him today in a special way. You can find Him at the place of prayer. 

Obey Him if you love Him and love Him if you want to obey Him. Then and only then will They come and make Their home with you. 

Lord, help me to love You with all my heart, all my soul and with all my mind!