Keep My Commandments

John 14:15.
 If you love me, keep my commandments.

Christians often limit their obedience to "churchly" things. Those who are willing to be obedient in matters of ritual and worship, but consider that Christ's commands can be excluded from some parts of their lives, are all too numerous.

Consider, then, that obedience to Christ is nowhere restricted in Scripture. There is absolutely no thought that you can obey him in part of your life, but not in all. Why?

• First, because all authority is His. All legitimate authority on earth is derived from him.
• Second, because faith without works—isn't.

So the authority is there. Christ has spent three years with these men; why does he mention this now? He is comforting his disciples with regard to the fact that he is about to be crucified. So let us consider obedience in the light of Christian comfort:

These men are in anxious tears over his imminent departure. They don't understand everything, but they know he is leaving, and they are saddened. They offer their tears as proof of this. But if obedience is better than sacrifice (and it is), then it is certainly better than feelings. Obedience is a way of loving and worshiping Christ.
 
More than that, obedience is the path for the puzzled Christian. These men don't quite understand what Christ will be going through. They are saddened, but they are also puzzled. When puzzled, and you don't know what's best, obey the command you know is right. The Lord will honor that.

Do you see that obedience is the natural fruit of the love of God? We love him because of the great love he showed us in going to the Cross for our sins. Knowing who He is, knowing the authority he has and the love he has for us, the natural reaction should be to do what he wants us to do—to obey.

"I delight to do your will," said Jesus. It is essential to his relationship to the Father that he delights to do his will. It is not a relationship of force and submission, but of love.

Every morning my wife brings her grouchy husband a cup of coffee. This is not written in the marriage vows; nor have I ever demanded it. It is an act of love; she knows how much I cherish that first cup in the morning. She delivers it with a smile.

It is a small example. Surely our love for Him should be much greater; surely its fruit should be obedience.