Love or Obedience?

Above all else, Jesus Christ desires our obedience.  In our obedience we communicate to Him that we love Him, but if we believe that Jesus Christ wants us to love Him above all else we won't always see it necessary to obey Him.  We will bask in pools of grace while forgetting the call of God to be Holy.  

 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. ²⁴ 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 14:23-24

"This is love for God: to obey His commands and His commands are not burdensome" 1 John 5:3

Jesus makes it quite clear that the one who loves Him is the one who obeys Him.  Your allegiance to Christ is made evident, not in your religious creeds or church attendance, but in your commitment to Him.  If you do not obey Him, then you do not know Him.  If you have no desire for fellowship with Him, no drive to turn from sin and towards His righteousness then you are still lost in your sin, unforgiven and before God you stand condemned.  

Do not fool yourself into thinking that just because you attend church or just because you prayed a prayer that one time that you have salvation.  Whether or not you have true salvation is revealed in your obedience to Christ today.  Are you walking with Him?  Desiring to be changed by Him?  Are you abhorring sin in your life, striving to overcome the old life by the power of the Holy Spirit?  If so, then good, keep fighting dear Christian!  But, if not, then you have been deceived into thinking that you actually know Him.  

You see, when you truly turn from your sin and towards the saving work of Jesus Christ you can do nothing but be changed.  You know that you will never be the same because the risen Christ has been made Lord of your life and has invaded your very being.  

Obedience to our Lord is what matters.  If we love Him, then we will obey Him.  It's really that simple.  

Examine your life and ask yourself, do I truly know Him?  Have I truly turned over control of my life to His Lordship?  Is He King and Master over my life?  Have I in my brokenness turned from my sin and towards the saving work of the risen Christ?  

I hope that you have today.  If not, then I beg of you, let go of your life and watch Him transform you.