By: Carole L. Haines
7 While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed to God and asked God for help. He prayed with loud cries and tears to the One who could save him from death, and his prayer was heard because he trusted God. 8 Even though Jesus was the Son of God, he learned obedience by what he suffered. 9 And because his obedience was perfect, he was able to give eternal salvation to all who obey him.
(Hebrews 5:7-9 NCV)
We had a guest Pastor yesterday. He preached on obedience. But what I so appreciated about it was he pointed out the many ways that for us as believers, obedience is an act of love. This Pastor called it, “God’s Love Language.” How beautiful. I have been asking God to deepen my relationship with Him and He spoke to me so clearly during that sermon of two areas of my life where I was not obeying Him fully. I want to love Jesus more and more. I feel the fire in my soul has dimmed and I am asking God to fan it back into a flame of Passion for both Him and for others. I have received two other areas from God recently that I am working on as well. It is most definitely drawing me closer to Him to obey Him. But to be reminded that Obeying Jesus in an act of love was so fresh for me. The Pastor used this verse from John as an appetizer for the rest of his sermon:
15 “If you love me, you will obey my commands. (John 14:15 NCV)
Further down in John 14 we read this:
21 Those who know my commands and obey them are the ones who love me, and my Father will love those who love me. I will love them and will show myself to them.” (vs. 21 NCV)
Notice that obedience is linked to Jesus showing Himself to us. There is a definite link to obedience and intimacy in our walks with God. “For Christ’s Sake!” I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people use that statement as a curse, or an exclamation of surprise. But for those of us who love Jesus, it is a call to action, a call to obedience, an act of love. So next time you hear someone use this as a curse, pray for the one who did to come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord, but let it also remind you that for us, it is a call to love Jesus more deeply through our acts of obedience. For the Love of Christ, indeed, I will obey!
hisshadowings.com 