| “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” |
| —John 15:10 |
Compared to children of today, my childhood was severely disadvantaged. Why? Because today, children often receive rewards for any slight indication of obedient behavior. In my childhood, growing up in the 1950s, I was expected to always obey without any reward. The obedience was its own reward. Can you imagine that?
If you are anywhere near my own age, you are laughing right now. You grew up the same way I did. We were not bribed to be obedient. We were simply expected to always behave. If anything, we were warned of dire consequences should we fail to be obedient. But, even in God’s economy, obedience to His will and His written Word have some startlingly real benefits. Note these words of Jesus, as recorded in John 15:10:
“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
Obedience celebrates our place wherein we remain solidly connected to the vine of God’s love and grace. Not that we can do anything—in and of ourselves—to earn God’s love. Quite to the contrary—God gives us His love freely. But, for our own benefit, for our own nourishment, for our own health, we need to remain obediently connected to the vine of God’s divine provision. That’s what John 15 is all about.
As we begin this new day, let’s take time to click on this link and read through John 15. As we read the words of Jesus, let’s rejoice that in our obedience, as led by the Holy Spirit, we choose to remain connected to the nourishing vine of God’s love and grace.
Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, October 30, 2018
