Introduction. The words “I love Jesus” are easily spoken, but Jesus demands more than words. Those who truly love Jesus must strongly desire to keep all His commands. This quality of obedient love is also the basis of Jesus’ love for us: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10) Just as Jesus showed His love for God by keeping every command, we show our love to Jesus in keeping His commands.
When we set aside one of Jesus’ commands, we are not even His friends! “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (Jn. 15:14). Even worse, if we can easily set aside commands that are inconvenient or we don’t like, we don’t know Him at all. Those who proclaim they know Him but don’t keep His commands are liars. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1Jn. 2:3).
This is not new! Love for God has always been based on how we keep His commands: “if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God.” (Deut. 11:13). Each of God’s commands creates a fork in our path. One direction continues our submission and love for Jesus and God. The other leads to a selfish regard only for ourselves: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.” (Pr. 3:5).
When we set aside one of Jesus’ commands, we are not even His friends! “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (Jn. 15:14). Even worse, if we can easily set aside commands that are inconvenient or we don’t like, we don’t know Him at all. Those who proclaim they know Him but don’t keep His commands are liars. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1Jn. 2:3).
This is not new! Love for God has always been based on how we keep His commands: “if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God.” (Deut. 11:13). Each of God’s commands creates a fork in our path. One direction continues our submission and love for Jesus and God. The other leads to a selfish regard only for ourselves: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.” (Pr. 3:5).