IF YOU LOVE HIM
“If you love Me, you will obey My commands.” (John 14:15). Love for Jesus is not measured by words alone. It is not found merely in the songs we sing, the prayers we pray, or the emotions we feel. True love for Christ is revealed in a simple, childlike desire to do what He says. Obedience is the language of love. The one who truly loves Jesus will seek to please Him in all things—not out of fear or duty, but out of a heart that has been captivated by grace.
To accept Jesus as Savior is to accept Him as Lord. He cannot be divided. The One who saves us also rules us. When you receive Christ, you are saying, “You are my Master. My life belongs to You.” The Lordship of Christ is not a burden; it is freedom. His commands are not heavy chains, but keys that open the gates to joy. “His commandments are not burdensome,” John reminds us (1 John 5:3), because they lead to life, peace, and holiness.
Think of Jesus as your loving Lord—your Boss, yes, but one whose heart beats with affection for you. He is not harsh or unreasonable. Every word He speaks is truth, every command He gives is for your good. When He says “Follow Me,” it is not to control you, but to lead you out of darkness into light (John 8:12). When He says “Forgive,” it is to free you from the poison of bitterness (Matthew 6:14). When He says “Love one another,” it is because He knows love is the very breath of heaven (John 13:34).
He tells you what to do not because He must prove that He is God, but because He is God. His authority flows naturally from His being. The sea obeys Him, the winds bow to Him, and even death itself trembles before His word (Mark 4:39; John 11:43-44). Shall we, who have been redeemed by His blood, do any less?
Every command of Christ is for your benefit. There is not a single “Thou shalt” or “Thou shalt not” that does not flow from love. His commandments are like guardrails on a dangerous mountain road—they keep us from falling over the edge. The path of obedience is not a narrow prison; it is a highway of peace that leads to life (Isaiah 35:8).
Notice how Jesus frames it: “If you love Me, you will obey My commands.” (John 14:15). It begins with love. Love first—obedience follows. Love is the root; obedience is the fruit. You cannot reverse the order. Trying to obey without love is religion. Obeying because you love Him is relationship.
Loving Jesus is a decision—a daily surrender of the heart. It is waking up each morning and saying, “Lord, You are my life. I trust You more than I trust myself.” It is choosing to dwell on His goodness, to reflect on His mercy, and to delight in His presence. When you truly see how much He loves you—how He left heaven, bore your sin, and suffered for your soul—your heart cannot help but love Him back (1 John 4:19).
And that love transforms everything. It softens the hardest heart. It melts rebellion. It purifies motives. When you love Jesus, obedience becomes natural. You begin to want what He wants. You find yourself drawn to His will like flowers turning toward the light. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4).
Of course, we are still in the flesh. We stumble. We fall. But even when we fail, love brings us back. Peter denied the Lord three times, but love restored him. On the seashore, Jesus asked him, “Do you love Me?” (John 21:15–17). Notice that Jesus did not ask, “Peter, will you promise never to fail again?” He asked, “Do you love Me?” Because if love is there, obedience will follow.
Obeying Christ’s commands is not a single act—it is a way of life. It is about direction, not perfection. The believer’s life is a steady walk toward the heart of Jesus. “Whoever says he abides in Him must walk as He walked.” (1 John 2:6). We do not measure our faith by how high we climb in a moment, but by the steady, faithful steps we take daily.
When love is the fire that burns in your heart, obedience becomes the smoke that rises to heaven. Get the love right, and everything else will follow. You will not have to force obedience—it will flow from within, like a river from its source. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me, out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38).
To live for Christ daily is not a complicated mystery—it is the simplicity of faith expressed through love. It is the quiet surrender of your will to His. It is trusting Him when you cannot see, obeying Him when you do not understand, and resting in Him when you are weary. It is to abide in the vine, drawing life from His life, bearing fruit because His Spirit dwells within you (John 15:4–5).
The life of union with Christ is the secret of true holiness. It is not striving, but abiding. It is not laboring to be good, but yielding to the One who is good. The branch does not struggle to bear fruit—it simply stays connected to the vine. And as we remain in fellowship with Jesus, His life flows into us. His peace becomes ours. His strength becomes ours. His obedience becomes ours.
So, beloved, let love be your aim. Let your heart say, “Lord Jesus, I love You. Teach me to walk in Your ways.” The one who loves will obey—not out of compulsion, but out of joy. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not heavy.” (1 John 5:3).
Love Him deeply. Follow Him closely. Trust Him fully. And you will find that obedience is no longer a burden—it is a delight. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30).
When you love Him, your life will tell the story. Every step, every choice, every word will whisper one truth: “I love the Lord, because He first loved me.” (Psalm 116:1).
Lord Jesus, teach my heart to love You more each day. Let my life become a quiet testimony of that love. May every word I speak and every step I take echo the truth that You first loved me. Let gratitude be the melody of my days and obedience the rhythm of my walk. In Your precious name I pray, amen.
BDD
