Today read: John 14:15-31
14:15 If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.
Are you in love with Jesus? The question isn’t do you love him, but are you IN love with him. Are you dwelling in a place where you literally hang on every word he says, not looking for how his words can make you feel or how they help you? Do you look for ways to share about him and who he is, not what he has done for you… but who HE is? and Do you do whatever he says?
Do you love everyone? Or just everyone like you?
Are you kind and merciful when faced with injustice? or do you demand justice now?
Do you feed the poor? Or do you judge why they are poor?
Do you care for the widow and orphans? Or do you think it’s someone else’s responsibility?
Do you heal the sick? Or call the sickness God’s will?
Cast out demons? Or ignore that all completely and then complain about the evil in the world?
Do you share His love anywhere he sends you, from Kroger to Africa?
I bet if you call yourself a Christian your first response is a yes, of course to all the first questions!
But really think about it. Sit down, quiet your mind and go over the questions I just asked. You may be like I was and realize you put a lot of things before God in your life. You don’t always say yes, Lord. Actually you sometimes ignore the commands all together.. because “you’re busy” or that’s not “your call” or you’re tired or heartbroken or if you’re like I was… scared!
It is simple, and take note I said simple, not easy. But still the truth is this, if you love Jesus, you will obey His commands. It will come natural to you in every situation.
We can’t control anyone else’s will or emotions, we can however ask God to send his advocate and helper to make a way, to open the door, to bring peace to any and every situation you’re faced with and guess what… His word says He will do it every time for those who love and obey Him!
(if you read John chapters 14 and 15 you pretty much see Jesus telling us over and over “if you love me, you will do what I command” I think I counted 3-4 times He says it. He goes on to promise us a helper, His Holy Spirit)
He is faithful!
It took me standing in the same spot two years in a row! Same ocean in front of me, same heartbroken feeling in my chest. Knowing it was not my burden to carry. But I’m a carrier to fault… I want everyone I know to know his beautiful heart. I want to do it for you. But I can’t.
So there I was.
I heard God say it’s okay you’re back, now you know I love you, but do You love me?
Me- YES, Lord
Then do as I command.
Lord, we come to You today and we thank You that we do not have to hide anything, You already see it all! The good, the effort, the heart, the hurt, the ugly.. and you forgive us and love us the same. Lord we pray today that you uncover any area in our life we have not surrendered to You, or have picked back up. Lord we lay all of our fears and idols at Your feet once and for all.. in Your holy name we pray, Amen
Shannon R. Hess 