JOHN 14
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. – John 14:15-24
JOHN 14 IF YOU LOVE GOD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
If you love God, you will obey and follow his commandments
It is a clear sign that you truly love him with your heart, soul and mind
You can’t claim you love God and have a rebellious attitude
If you question his authority, it is impossible to show gratitude
If you love God, you will emulate Jesus in his love for others
You won’t be self-focused but think of your neighbor’s welfare
If you love God, you will hunger for his word and seek counsel
You won’t rely on your own understanding but depend on him.
Has anyone declared their love for you but failed to show it? Many marriages end in failure because one of the spouses failed to follow through with their vow to love each other forever for better or for worse. Once the honeymoon phase dies down, the relationship goes down on a spiral of let downs and disillusionments set in. The “self” wins and tries to claim what they expected from the spouse which sometimes were never even discussed. Many marriages and other relationships were all based on transactional agreement. “I’ll give you something if you also give me what I want from you” is the unspoken mindset from these kinds of relationships. No wonder, they don’t last. They have no clear notion of what true love is.
Jesus gives the disciples true and tested proof that they are his followers. He tells them that those who obey his commandments are those who truly love him. He also mentions the importance of keeping God’s word in their hearts. Without God’s words, we won’t know how to follow his laws and navigate in this corrupt world. Without his truth, we will continue to be deceived and an easy target for the devil to manipulate and tempt. Saying you love God and not obeying his word and laws show that you don’t love God.
REFLECTION
· Why do you think “obedience” is the requirement of Jesus to prove they love him?
