Turning Talking into Walking
Love and Obedience
Scripture Reading: John 14:23-27
Key Verse: John 14:23
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
The Kingdom of God always combines love and action. The most famous verse in the Bible states it clearly: “For God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16). God combined His love with positive action. In our scripture for today’s lesson, Jesus states this principle again: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” In kingdom perspective, it’s unthinkable to say we love someone and never show it with positive action. In other words, the action or obedience is the evidence of our love!
The question today is: Could people around you find enough evidence to convict you of loving God? What would your spouse point to and say, “There, that is the reason I know you love Jesus”? If your kids were interviewed, would they easily tell stories of what you do that proves your love for Jesus? At work, do you feel a need to defend yourself for being a Christ follower, or is there plenty of evidence that speaks for itself?
Being a good witness for the kingdom doesn’t necessarily mean you do a lot of talking. In Jesus’ words, it means you do a lot of obeying. It is in your obedience that your love for Him becomes evident. Let’s determine to shine bright for God’s kingdom today. Let’s determine to live out a life of obedience!
Father, I will prove my love for you today by obeying everything you have shown me is right and true. In Jesus’ name, amen.