Living in the Vine 14

The Obedience of Love

John 15:10; 12 & 17; John 13:34-35; John 14:15-21; Matthew 22:34-40.

Jesus speaks about how He has kept Father’s commands, thus remaining in His love. He is not speaking here about the Torah rules such as the Ten Commandments (although Jesus kept them), but rather the specific assignments or opportunities He was given day by day. Through the Holy Spirit, he was directed by God to speak out words of truth (Jn 12:49-50). He was also instructed to display Father’s heart of love to the lost, broken, sick, diseased, disappointed, bereaved, dispossessed and demon-possessed through the various signs, wonders and miracles He performed. His resolute obedience reached its height at the Cross, when both Father and Son showed their love for the whole world as Jesus gave Himself up to death for us all (see John 10:18).

Jesus summarises the whole of Torah in the word ‘love’ (Matt 22:34-30): first, love towards God with every fibre of our being; then the outworking of the overflow of that love towards others. Throughout John’s gospel we see the free-flow of the intimacy of the love relationship between Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It is this same vital heart-to-heart closeness that is offered to us if only we will give ourselves wholly to the life offered us in the Vine: He in us and we in Him. As we intentionally embrace this to ‘abide’ in Him, the Spirit breathes His life into us. This affects and changes our feelings and character so that gradually our thoughts become united with His, at which point our desire is only to do His will, and so we will obediently listen for His voice and do what He asks of us.

It is from this close communion that we, just as Jesus did, receive our daily promptings to get involved in what Father God is doing in the lives of others – by giving away something of His love. This is so important to Him that John repeatedly states and restates, time and again, that Jesus’ desire for us, His disciples, is that we would also just love, love and continually love. 

The challenge is not only to pay attention to the voice of the Lord, but also to be obedient and do what He says. Disobedience in little things can dull our conscience and deaden our wish to do the will of God. Unlike us, Jesus never missed an opportunity because He lacked the desire to be obedient, or wanted some ‘me time’; nor did he pray, “Lord, please send someone else!”  There simply wasn’t a fleshly or selfish part of His nature at all. Rather, He repeatedly and consistently made the ongoing daily choices to reflect and release Father’s love; and the Source of this love was His closeness and intimacy of relationship with Father God – His ‘abiding’.

“This is how we know we are in Him: whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” (1 Jn 2:5-6).

Additional reading: Mark 16:15-20; John 8:28-29; Romans 12:1-2.

Prayer time

Obedience in keeping Jesus’ commandments of love has a clear correlation to the reality of ‘abiding’ in Father’s love. The fruit of this closeness is not only the expression of Jesus’ love to others but also a growth in personal holiness, being conformed to the image (nature and persona) of Christ and having a real desire to walk daily in obedience to Him, not self. 

Re-read all today’s scriptures. Meditate especially on 1 John 2:5-6.

• What is God saying to you?
• Is there anything you need to repent of having not done when you know He had prompted you to do it?

Give yourself to Him today in a fresh and sincere act of consecration (Romans 6:12-13; 12:1-2). Allow yourself to become aware of His presence and enjoy ‘abiding’ with Him.

Sarah Winbow

To see previous installments of this devotional, follow this link. 


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