“You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:14 NLT)
We are walking our youth students through a ‘Red Thread’ series; following the promise of a Savior throughout the Old Testament. It’s a cumbersome task; tracking the first hint of Jesus from the garden all the way to the manger without losing our students’ interest. But I’m up for the challenge.
This week, we are tackling the Abraham epic. Tough to accomplish in a twenty minute message. His story includes fourteen chapters in Genesis, but I needed to shrink-wrap it into bite-sized pieces. A bird’s eye view of Abraham’s lifelong journey crystalizes two truths: God’s promise and Abraham’s obedience. God is unwavering, Abraham flails a bit but ultimately finishes strong.
It was in the course of this study that I was struck again by the essentiality of obedience in the life of a believer. I was drying my hair this morning, marveling again how God first loved us, when I realized that obedience is how we tell God, “I love you” in return.
Think about love and how it’s usually expressed. With a significant other it’s attention, preference, maybe gifts given or touch applied. With a sibling we could hug, wrestle, tease or taunt. We text and talk and laugh and cry with friends, remember birthdays and shopping together. With children, we tuck in, wipe away tears, reinforce truths and kiss boo-boos.
But how do we love God back?
We obey.
This is hard to understand and even harder to do. He is our Father and our friend and the lover of our soul. But He is also God; sovereign and powerful and majestic and more than we can imagine. He is worthy of our absolute submission. We say “I love you” by surrendering to His plan.
We struggle with this. Especially as Americans, with our independent me-first mindset. It’s hard to let love of God eclipse our all-important self. But it’s essential in our worship; this surrender to a greater, stronger, purer, brighter Being.
“Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3 NLT)
God’s commands are for our benefit. He issues perimeters for our wellbeing more far than His. He knows our potential and He knows our vulnerable human nature and He designs the fence for us with our liabilities in full view. We live ‘our best life’ when we learn to live in obedience to His instructions.
“I will pursue Your commands, for You expand my understanding.”
(Psalm 119:32 NLT)
Lord, forgive us for the times we’ve jumped the fence. We are learning that obedience is the way we love You well. Your commands are for life not death, for hope and not for despair. Give us the desire to run full-speed in the direction of Your instructions, let us find fullest life inside Your lovingly constructed fence. Amen.