Love and Obedience

John 14:24 KJV

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

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We say we love people, and we prove it by showing care towards them. In this verse, Jesus says those who love him keep his sayings. We show Jesus care by obeying his teaching. But those who do not truly care for Jesus do not keep his sayings, even though he has only said what he heard from the Father. The implication is that to love the Father you must love Christ.

If you do not love Christ, you do not love the Father. Jesus cares for his disciples. He warns them and gives them a way to test their love. They can tell, and prove, they love Jesus by obeying him. It is the same for modern believers. We can measure our love by reviewing our obedience. And if we see room for improvement, we can rejoice because we know how to pray. We can pray for greater love and greater obedience.

Jesus obeyed the Father. He did not have a sinful nature. It was in his nature to love and obey the Father. Therefore, the Father revealed himself to Jesus. Though Jesus’ obedience was divinely inspired, his many choices to obey were done in his flesh. We see how things should be as we study Christ. Like Christ, upon our rebirth into the Kingdom of God, we are free from our sinful nature. We are free to obey and love both Jesus and the Father.

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Lord, please help me love and obey you in everything I do. Deliver me from the philosophy of the world and help me learn the teachings of the Bible so I may obey you more fully. Lord, let my life shine for you. Teach me your ways. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Anointed to the Task

John 12:48-50 WEB

He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day. [49] For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. [50] I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”

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Jesus is the exact expression of the Father. He is divine. He is also human. As a human, he did things from the weakened condition of having laid down his divinity. He laid down his life and took up a life as a human. It is not a small thing when the Lord tells us to lay down our lives. Jesus is calling us into the same behaviors that he demonstrated as he walked the earth.

If Jesus did it, so can we. If Jesus could hear and follow the Father’s commands, so can we. He was human as well as divine. Jesus was so assured that he was hearing from the Father that he claimed to speak the Father’s words. Jesus was anointed. He was righteous and holy. His behavior modeled the scriptures, and his attitudes modeled the scripture. These two things made him both righteous and holy.

Righteousness and holiness opened Jesus up for an enormous anointing. His anointing was so strong that it carried him to the cross. His anointing carried him to and through his divine purpose. This is something we can imitate. We can walk in outward righteousness of choice and behavior. We can also walk in the inner attitude of Godly motive; we can be holy. We can hear from the Father, and we can understand what he says.

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Lord, thank you for becoming a human and showing me how to live. Help me, Lord, to equip an anointing through the righteousness of behavior and the holiness of motive. I want to fulfill my divine purpose as you fulfilled yours. Help me to serve you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jesus’ Family

John 12:1-2 WEB

Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. [2] So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.

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Six days before the Passover Jesus came out of hiding (John 11:54). He went to Bethany, to the household of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. They were practically family and Jesus trusted them enough to stay with them. Jesus was not hiding anymore. He had a following of disciples and apostles that would have been in Bethany with him. So, it was only a matter of time before the religious leaders found out Jesus was back in Judea.

The Pharisees were plotting to kill Jesus (John 11:53). For this reason, he stayed in Ephraim on the edge of the wilderness. However, the Passover was just six days away and so Jesus went back to Bethany. He would not have gone at all except if the Father revealed it to him (John 5:19). So, in faith, Jesus goes. He goes to his favorite family, putting them in danger as well.

But it was good that Jesus had Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to stay with. Martha is serving, her normal behavior. Lazarus is relaxed at the table with Jesus. This family is not afraid of danger. Lazarus was raised from the dead and the man who raised him was sitting at the table. Jesus chose well in trusting this family. He had done great things for them and had inspired great faith in them.

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Lord, help me stand steady in my walk with you. Give me the courage to serve you. I want to be a daughter you can trust. I want to be close to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jesus’ Truth

John 8:52-55 WEB

Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ [53] Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?” [54] Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. [55] You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.

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White lies. American culture practically runs on them. We thoughtlessly go through conversational motions without realizing we casually tell white lies for the sake of good. But this was not Jesus’ problem. He did not tell white lies. Nor did he tell possible lies. He told what he believed to be true and for this choice, he was called a demon.

Jesus was also called a demon for bringing a new idea. That was, salvation comes from obedience to Christ versus obedience to the law. When you stop and think about how counterculture this idea of obeying Jesus was, it makes it easy to understand the crowd calling Jesus a demon.

Another reason for saying Jesus had a demon was because he said he knew God. Someone in our modern era would probably be called a demon for saying they knew God. It is stunning that Jesus went through everything we go through. Even being pressured to recant, he holds firm when he says of the Father, “…I know him, and keep his word.”

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Lord Jesus, I want to be like you. Please forgive me for telling white lies to preserve myself. Help me trust you fully and teach me to kindly say the truth. Teach me to keep silent when appropriate so I do not cause harm in disagreement. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jesus Pleased the Father

John 8:27-29 WEB

They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father. [28] Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things. [29] He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

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There is a stunning implication in this verse. Jesus says the Father is with him because Jesus pleases him. So, if a person does not please God, then God is not with them. That sounds too harsh to be a post-cross idea. However, we must remember that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). He is the same, he does not change. Yet, the things we are judged by have changed.

For example, in the Old Testament people were judged for keeping the Law of the Pentateuch (Ps 119:5-6). In the New Testament, Jesus says his life judges people (Rom 3:26). We see Jesus pleased the Father intentionally (John 8:29). As we endeavor to bring together the whole counsel of God, we recognize it is by grace we are made right with the Father. Even so, Jesus says if we love him, we will obey him (John 10:9, Mat 7:13-14).

Obedience to Christ is the standard that proves we are covered by grace (1 Pet 1:2). Without grace, we could not keep the commands of Christ. If we are not keeping the commands of Christ, the Father is not pleased with us. There comes a point in all believers’ journey they must pick up their cross and follow Jesus (Mat 10:38). Just as Jesus was obedient to the Father, we must be obedient to Christ. By this, we can be sure we are in the Lord’s good favor.

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Lord, lead me into obedience through your mercy and grace. Teach me to become more obedient and help me mature in my faith. I want to do those things which please you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What Jesus Heard

John 8:25-27 WEB

They said therefore to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. [26] I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world.” [27] They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father.

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Even Jesus had to hold his tongue. He was constrained by the voice of the Father. If Jesus heard it, he was faithful to say it. If he only had his own opinion, he remained silent.  However, the Jews wanted to know more about Jesus. They pressed him for an answer. The only answer Jesus had for the Jews was that he was who and what he said he was from the beginning. Jesus assumes they have heard him previously and he judges them based on what they should know.

But that judgment is implied at this point. Jesus tells them he is going to judge them and say things about them. Yet, it wasn’t the right time. In his humility, Jesus remains silent. He gives the Jews enough information they can intuit his meaning. But he did not say anything outright. Instead, he would wait to hear from his Father and then speak.

Jesus implies another judgment. He has judged the Father as trustworthy. Jesus clearly believed he could hear the Father’s voice, he believed the Father was trustworthy, and these two things together meant the Jews were responsible to accept his testimony. Jesus felt his testimony was valid because he only spoke what the Father said, and the Father always speaks the truth.  

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Lord Jesus, train my ear to hear you. Protect me as I stretch out my faith and act upon your voice. Give me the wisdom to go slow. Teach me humility and discernment so I will be silent when all I have is my opinion. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Father’s Bosom

John 7:32-36 WEB

The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. [33] Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me. [34] You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come.” [35] The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? [36] What is this word that he said, ‘You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come’?”

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Did you catch that? In the above verses, Jesus says he is going somewhere the Pharisees cannot follow. He then goes on to say, “where I am, you can’t come.” What does Jesus mean when he says where he is they cannot come? He is talking to the Pharisees in person. Doesn’t that mean they are all in the same place? No, according to Jesus they are not because he is somewhere the Pharisees cannot come.

Where is this special place Jesus is at? Jesus is in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18). The bosom is a central pocket or fold in a garment tied with a sash or belt. Thus, John gives us a picture of Jesus being carried in a fold of the Father’s garments. However, the bosom also means the center of one’s thoughts. Jesus was favored by God and had access to God’s thoughts (John 14:6). And that was somewhere the Pharisees could not go.  

Praise the Lord! We are not excluded from being present with Jesus. We also are in the bosom of the Father if we have learned to rest. When we are trying to please God with constant activity, we miss the chance to go where only he can take us. The Pharisees were the picture of striving (Hebrews 3:18-19). They had hundreds of rules they believed were necessary to please God. More, they kept themselves on the throne of their lives by remaining in control.

The bosom of God is not a place one can achieve striving in the flesh (Heb 4:6). It is a place of peaceful surrender to the ways and thoughts of God (Heb 4:10). We release our own desires in exchange for God’s desires. Then God places us in his bosom and carries us. More, the bosom is the place where God’s heartbeat can be heard.

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Lord Jesus, please help me rest from works. Help me cease striving. I long to be carried in your bosom Father. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

The Fragrance of Christ

John 6:46 WEB

Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father.

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Wait a minute. Didn’t the author of the Book of John just tell us that no one has seen the Father? In John 1:18 WEB it reads, “No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.” Jesus knew the Father well. He understood the Father and understood the Father’s priorities. (John 3:16) Jesus knew how to connect with the Father and hear from him. (John 5:19) Therefore, he could share the precepts of God so clearly that people could learn from him. In fact, Jesus represented God so well looking at him was like seeing the Father. According to the text scripture, the person who is from God is the one who can see the Father (by looking at Jesus.)

People could see the Father in Jesus. This helped him teach people how to be reconciled to God. People being able to see the Father in Jesus helped him in his ministry. It is not a far-fetched idea. The Word of God teaches Christians that they are to “put on Christ.” (Rom 13:11) So, it makes sense that Jesus would put on the Father.

It also makes sense for believers to look like God. Our devotion to God should allow us to interact with his Word and Spirit until we begin to look like God. The people in our lives should be strangely drawn toward us, especially those who are empty inside. Jesus should be a fragrance that comes from our lives. He is the bread of life. It seems reasonable that people who are empty inside would be attracted to the fragrance of Jesus, the Bread of Life.  

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Lord Jesus, please give me the grace to overcome every distraction that would prevent me from spending time with you. Please give me a hunger for the Word of God and a hunger to hear from your Holy Spirit. I want to look and smell like you, Jesus. Please help me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Lose No One

John 6:37-40 WEB

All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out. [38] For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. [39] This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day. [40] This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

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It’s touching that Jesus is purposed not to lose anyone who believes in him. Can you imagine if we viewed all believers, from the greatest to the least, as too valuable to lose? That type of love would bring the lowly to the church. The pews would be filled.

The coffers would be empty. Because in churches where the poor are truly welcomed, the wealthy tend to leave. Without the tithes of the middle class most churches cannot survive. In fact, most churches have multiple people on the payroll, grounds to maintain, buildings to maintain, not to mention utilities, and other costs associated with property ownership.

In short, churches have bills. Additionally, is the benevolence cost associated with serving the poor. So, when churches are purposed not to lose anyone the Father brings them, they must overcome these difficult challenges. Sadly, many churches continue to cater to the wealthy.

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Lord Jesus, please help me recognize the worth of all people. Help me love all those I encounter. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Living Words

John 5:37-40 WEB

The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. [38] You don’t have his word living in you; because you don’t believe him whom he sent. [39] “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. [40] Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.

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Have you ever heard the phrase “living word?” The idea is that some words contain special impartations of grace for our lives. Usually, when a scripture or prophetic utterance is a living word it will stay with the recipient for years. A prime feature of a living word is the way it remains in the memory of the receiver.

Jesus says something amazing about living words in this passage. First, he says living words come from the Father. Second, he says if we do not honor the one the Father sends we will not receive the living word. Jesus concludes by saying life is found in him. He is what the scriptures testify about. Jesus is the one who is sent. He is the one who gives life and the testimony of him carries life.

Our testimony of Jesus carries life to the hearer. In those moments, we are the one who is sent. And, like the above passage says, those who do not honor the one who is sent and do not believe the testimony of Jesus will not receive the living word. They will not come to Jesus, and they will not receive the life he offers.

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Lord Jesus, I want to receive the life you offer. Teach me to honor those you have sent. Help me listen and hear when others testify about you, Lord. Use me to share your testimony with others. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.