NOT WHAT YOU      EXPECT

It is a surprise. Many expect warm feelings and tenderness and intimacy and affection as expressions of love.

But obedience?

Obedience makes many cringe because they hear the crack of a whip. Their feet drag from the weight of servility. They grumble at what they think is forced labor.

But Jesus' words are clear.

“Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me...” (John 14:21a).

“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching” (John 14:23a).

Obedience and love are not contradictions. They are not strange bedfellows. For obedience is the flower that blooms from the fertile soil of love.

Jesus' words are clear enough: out of the believer's love for him will flow obedience.

The nutrients that feed the believer's love are inexhaustible. Because they come from an inexhaustible source.

“... love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).

When a believer taps into that source of love by loving Jesus by obeying him, he experiences more and more of God's love.

“The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them” (John 14:21b).

“All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 23).

Love and obedience bear another fruit. A fruit that is sweet to your taste and delightful to your soul.

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:11).

The devil whispers in your ears that God is a divine killjoy. He is such a liar.

“LORD, You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
    letting them drink from your river of delights” (Psalm 36:8). 
🙏🙏🙏