READING:
One-year plan: 1 Chronicles 1-2, John 14
Two-year plan: Deuteronomy 8-9, Luke 1:1-25
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A lot of people say they love Jesus.
A lot of those same people who say they love Jesus don’t live like they do, however.
Jesus was clear about the way we live if we really love Him, and we cannot do interpretative gymnastics to get around His words:
- “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” (John 14:15)
- “The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” (John 14:21)
- “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. . . . The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words.” (John 14:23-24)
It’s really simple: if we truly love Jesus, we will do what He tells us to do. That is not to say that we will live perfectly (I suspect all of us have had times in our lives when our words and actions did not correspond), but it does say that ongoing disobedience reflects a lack of love for Jesus. Love for Him means a desire to honor Him; Loving Him means obeying Him. I pray that I will always listen to the Comforter when He convicts me of wrong and draws me back to obedience . . . and thus, to show my love for the Son.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Does your obedience indicate love for Jesus?
PRAYER: “Father, show me where my actions do not reflect love for You.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: 1 Chronicles 3-5, John 15:1-25
Two-year plan: Deuteronomy 10:1-11:25, Luke 1:26-38